'Masters of the Universe' Review: A Delightful and Silly Throwback to the 80’s Action-Adventure Era
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Shauna Bushe - June 6, 2026
Masters of the Universe is a confident, unapologetic and vibrant adventure film that breathes genuine fire into an old legend.
What is 'Masters of the Universe' about?
After being exiled to Earth as a child and spending fifteen years living a mundane life as an ordinary human named Adam Glenn (Nicholas Galitzine), a young man rediscovers the mythical Sword of Power and is pulled back to his home planet of Eternia. Finding his kingdom completely overthrown and ravaged by the dark warlock Skeletor (Jared Leto), Adam must team up with the resistance leaders Teela and Man-At-Arms, uncover the hidden mysteries of his past, and learn to tap into the sword's magic to transform into the legendary hero He-Man to liberate his world.
Not every movie needs to be a blockbuster and Masters of the Universe is far from it but is a quintessential summer popcorn flick worth checking out – and no, not just for Nicholas in a loin cloth. The film ventures into a world entirely unlike our own, brilliantly brought to life with unique creatures, futuristic weaponry, hi-tech vehicles and landscapes glowing with magic. Masters of the Universe is vibrant with colour and explodes with a sense of genuine adventure. The action sequences are exciting, well-choreographed and consistently exciting to watch on the big screen.
It goes without saying He-Man has a lengthy history, stemming from the 80’s, expanding into animated tv shows and now the cinematic universe. Trying to translate that nostalgia into a modern cinematic universe is a tightrope walk, but Director Travis Knight (Bumblebee) carefully crafts a respectable reimagination of the already well-established legend, staying close to goofy one liners, daft theatrics and avoiding the trap of taking the material too seriously. The beautifully absurd dialogue and over the top campy combat style is exactly what made the original property of a classic.
Where the film really makes a punch is all down to its cast, who truly keep the energy electric. Front and centre is Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), undeniably the heart of the film and is a mixed bag of vulnerable humanity and goofy personality. His brute strength mixed with a shy, dorky outer shell is a crucial part of the overall films charm. Teela (Camilia Mendez) is Adam’s childhood friend and shines as a fiercely capable warrior and a grounding presence in the eye of battle. Duncan (Idris Elba) is surprisingly soft concentrated, providing a source of comfort and reassurance for those who feel as though if you fail, you can’t redeem yourself, you can. Jared Leto (Skeletor) steals every scene with is maniacal laugh and unquenchable thirst for ultimate power and Evil-Lyn (Alison Bree) provides the camp, comedy and a delightful wickedness as the evil sorceress.
That energy is vital, because the film does occasionally stumble into predictable territory in the second half where the pacing slightly drags under the weight of its plot progression. However, it’s rescued by the film’s thunderous musical elements, switching from sweeping orchestral notes to neon soaked 80s synth rock which expertly matches each emotional beat, every heroic punch and injects a shot of pure nostalgia and adrenaline into the audience.
Ultimately, Masters of the Universe is a bold, colourful and respectable passing of the torch that delivers on fresh, high-energy for audiences of this era. Its light-hearted ride reminds us why its fun to go to the movies in the first place.
'Masters of the Universe' hits cinemas on June 4, 2026.
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