He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Review | Struggles to find its power
There was a time when He-Man was one of the most recognizable fantasy heroes in popular culture. For many viewers, especially those who grew up watching the animated series on television, the character represents a sense of nostalgia and childhood adventure. That is what makes Masters of the Universe a curious film. It arrives after decades, not as a continuation of a familiar story, but almost as an attempt to introduce Prince Adam, He-Man and Eternia all over again.
The biggest challenge for the film is figuring out who it is really made for. If you belong to the generation that grew up with He-Man, the film may feel like a missed opportunity. Instead of celebrating the larger-than-life hero many remember, it spends most of its time reintroducing Adam and building a world that older fans are already familiar with. On the other hand, if the target audience is Gen Z or Gen Alpha, the film faces a different problem. Today’s younger viewers already have countless superheroes competing for their attention, making it difficult for He-Man to stand out in any meaningful way.
The story follows Adam Glenn (Nicholas Galitzine), from his childhood and traces his journey to eventually becoming He-Man. After finding himself stranded on Earth, he spends years searching for the mysterious Sword of Power while being haunted by memories of his childhood. He sketches the people and places he remembers from Eternia and continues his search until a series of convenient events leads him back to the sword. Teela (Camila Mendes) eventually finds him and helps set the larger adventure in motion. Once back in Eternia, Adam learns that Skeletor (Jared Leto) is also searching for the sword in a bid to become even more powerful. The narrative does offer a twist along the way, but ultimately follows a predictable path as Adam confronts Skeletor, restores peace to Eternia and completes his transformation into He-Man. The multiple post credit scenes make it clear that the story is far from over, with the makers teasing Skeletor’s future and a significant revelation that sets up the (probable) next chapter.
One of the film’s biggest issues is how it portrays its central hero. Nicholas Galitzine looks the part and brings a youthful, inexperienced quality to Adam that suits the character’s early journey. However, the writing rarely allows him to evolve into the commanding presence one would expect from He-Man. He often comes across as hesitant, vulnerable and unsure of himself. While that may have been an intentional creative choice, it makes the character feel surprisingly weak for someone positioned as the saviour of an entire universe.
Masters Of The Universe Trailer_Pic Courtesy ImdbWhat makes this even more puzzling is the treatment of the Sword of Power itself. Adam knows that all he needs to do is raise the sword and proclaim, “By the Power of Grayskull… I have the power,” yet the film repeatedly shows him losing control of the sword with surprising ease. At one point, the sword is even broken, only to be conveniently restored later. The film also leaves some questions unanswered. Skeletor utters the same words in an attempt to claim the sword’s power, but nothing happens. Whether the sword is exclusively destined for Adam or whether there are other rules governing its power is never properly explored, leaving a noticeable gap in the mythology the film is trying to establish.
Interestingly, it is Camila Mendes as Teela who leaves the stronger impression. She is courageous, proactive and often appears more determined than Adam himself. In many scenes, she feels like the character driving the story forward. Jared Leto’s Skeletor, meanwhile, never quite reaches the level of menace or fear that the role demands. Despite the character’s iconic status, this version lacks the intimidating presence that could have elevated the conflict. Duncan (Idris Elba) comes across as warm and friendly, but the character is written in a strangely subdued manner. At times, the writing even reduces him to comic moments that feel out of place and do little to strengthen his role in the story.
The makers also attempt to inject humour into the narrative, but much of it feels aimed at a much younger audience. Instead of adding charm, several comedic moments come across as overly childish and dilute the sense of adventure the film is trying to create.
That said, there are a couple of moments that genuinely stand out. One comes when Duncan reminds Adam that falling is simply an opportunity to get up again. It is a simple line, but one that captures the film’s underlying message about resilience better than many of its larger action sequences. Another arrives towards the climax when Adam attempts to reason with Skeletor and asks him not to escalate their conflict. In a film built around power, battles and destiny, it is a surprisingly human moment that briefly gives the story an emotional depth it otherwise struggles to maintain.
Visually, the film does enough to bring Eternia to life and there are moments that hint at the grand fantasy spectacle fans may have hoped for. Unfortunately, those moments are never fully realised because the storytelling remains too busy setting up future chapters rather than making this one memorable on its own.
In the end, Masters of the Universe feels less like the triumphant return of a beloved franchise and more like an extended origin story that struggles to justify its existence. For longtime fans, it may not capture the magic they remember. For younger audiences, it may not offer enough excitement to compete with the superheroes and fantasy worlds they already have. Despite its iconic legacy, He-Man remains an unexpectedly unexciting watch.
Movie
: He-Man and the Masters of the UniverseDirected by: Travis Knight
Based on: Masters of the Universe by Mattel
Featuring: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Kristen Wiig
Music by: Daniel Pemberton
Theatrical Release Date: June 5, 2026
Run Time: 2hrs 21mins