Until very recently, I wasn’t sure if I was going to see Masters of the Universe in theaters, however the decision has now been made. The ticket has been purchased, and I want to talk about a couple of reasons why I’m planning to see the He-Man film, which arrives soon on the 2026 movie schedule.
While nostalgia is a factor, it wasn’t enough to make Masters of the Universe a must-see-in-theaters for me. My sisters and I were ’80s kids and the prime age for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe when the animated series aired on TV. We loved that show, and the She-Ra spinoff that followed. Of course, we had some of the toys, and we saw the 1987 live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren and a pre-Friends Courteney Cox.
When I learned that they were making a new Masters of the Universe movie, I recall feeling a spark of nostalgia, but otherwise, I was fairly neutral. As fondly as I remember watching the original show as a kid, I can’t say that I’ve been clamoring for a reboot. Still, I was curious enough to keep an eye on the promotions for Travis Knight’s movie, and that brings us to the things that sold me on seeing it sooner rather than later…
The Trailers Really Look Fun
The story centers on Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) returning to his home world of Eternia after spending more than a decade living on Earth. With the Sword of Power and the help of his friends Teela (Camila Mendes) and Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), he’s tasked with trying to save his world and fight Skeletor (Jared Leto).
I like the mix of humor and fantastical action featured in the trailers for the new movie. The footage has given us a good glimpse of the cast and the journey Adam is on. Also, I need to admit that I forgot just how much I loved Cringer/Battle Cat. As a kid, I remember liking that he could be brave even though he was also sometimes terrified. The sight of him roaring inside the MGM logo in the trailer made me smile.
Nicholas Galitzine Is Great — The Whole Cast Is, Really
Though I’d seen him in The Craft: Legacy and the Amazon’s 2021 Cinderella, Nicholas Galitzine won me over with two specific performances: the ridiculous, cheating-boyfriend Jeff in Bottoms, and the warm, charming, deserves-so-much-love Prince Henry in Red, White and Royal Blue (I can’t wait for Red, White and Royal Blue 2 to come out!). These characters couldn’t be more different if they tried, and yet, Galitzine played both so memorably and perfectly. For all the humor he brought to Bottoms, he brought as much warmth and depth to his Red, White and Royal Blue character.
Learning that he’d play Prince Adam had me curious, but also much more optimistic about the quality of the movie they were putting together. For Masters of the Universe, they picked an actor with genuine range to play the part of Adam (and from the sound of it, he put in a lot of work to bulk up for the role).
There’s even more talent among the cast, which – in addition to Galitzine, Mendes, Elba and Leto – includes Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, and Charlotte Riley.
The cast and trailers had me mostly sold on buying a ticket, but there’s one more thing to talk about…
Reviews Aren’t In Yet, But Early Reactions Sound Positive
I don’t rely solely on critics’ reactions to determine if I’ll see a movie, but if I hear it’s good, that’s certainly going to factor into my decision. In the case of Masters of the Universe, as of this writing, actual reviews aren’t out yet, but early reactions on social media sound positive, with the words “fun” and “funny” being used to describe it. This isn’t a property that I need to see taking itself super seriously. If what we’re in for is popcorn fun where the heroes fight the bad guys and there are some bits of humor sprinkled throughout, that works for me.
Masters of the Universe arrives in theaters on June 5, 2026, but luckily, I was able to grab a ticket for an early access screening on June 3rd at my local theater, so if you’re planning to watch it sooner rather than later, check the listings to see what’s available near you.