After years in development hell, Masters of the Universe finally arrives on the big screen with plenty of nostalgia, a massive budget, and a talented cast and crew. The studio made a lot of the right decisions on paper with the hiring of Travis Knight to helm it and giving it such a massive scale. They also assembled a hell of a cast with Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Alison Brie, Kristen Wiig, James Purefoy, and Jared Leto.
Unfortunately, despite its impressive visual presentation, the film struggles to justify its existence beyond fan service. While there are flashes of entertainment and a strong third act, this is ultimately a disappointing adaptation that never quite figures out what it wants to be.
The biggest issue lies with the script. You can feel that the script has passed through far too many hands, resulting in a story that feels like a mixture of competing ideas rather than a cohesive vision. There are 6 writers mentioned in the credits, and it shows. The narrative jumps between tones and concepts without fully committing to any of them, leaving the film feeling oddly unfocused. The screenplay is generic, highly predictable, and packed with fantasy-adventure clichés that audiences will see coming from miles away.
More frustratingly, there is very little creative worldbuilding. For a property with as much lore and potential as Masters of the Universe, the film rarely takes advantage of its universe in meaningful ways. This also ends up being the weakest film from director Travis Knight to date. Knight has previously demonstrated a strong sense of heart and visual storytelling, but his direction here feels surprisingly lackluster, particularly during the first half.
The opening act offers very little that feels distinctive or memorable, often relying on familiar blockbuster formulas. Thankfully, the second half shows signs of life. The action becomes more stylized and energetic, and the film finally develops some visual personality. The third act is easily the strongest section of the movie, featuring larger-scale set pieces and more confident execution. That said, it’s operating against a fairly low bar established by the preceding acts.
Nicholas Galitzine takes some time to settle into the role of He-Man. Early on, his performance feels somewhat hesitant, and you struggle to get invested in his character, but as the film progresses, he grows into the character and eventually becomes fully convincing as the iconic hero. By the finale, he carries the physical demands of the role with confidence.
The supporting cast delivers mixed results. Camila Mendes is disappointingly flat as Teela, never bringing enough presence or charisma to make the character memorable. In her defense, the script didn’t give her too much to do. Idris Elba fares slightly better as Man-At-Arms, delivering some solid, charming moments from time to time. But an actor of his calibre and talent just never quite felt the right fit for this kind of world. Morena Baccarin feels horribly miscast in her role, while Alison Brie is completely wasted, given very little material to work with despite her talent.
Then there’s Skeletor. Jared Leto clearly embraces the campier aspects of the villain, but the performance simply doesn’t work. Instead of becoming a menacing, savage, larger-than-life antagonist, Skeletor comes across as shallow, ridiculous, and strangely toothless. The villain ends up being the film’s most disappointing element. His voice and accent were also interesting choices, to say the least, but there were times when you would struggle to understand what was being said. His motivations are underdeveloped, his characterization lacks depth, and he never feels like a genuine threat despite the incredible work to get his look right. For a franchise so dependent on the rivalry between hero and villain, this is a major problem.
On the flip side, many of the film’s strongest qualities come from its technical departments. Visually, Masters of the Universe is stunning. The production design and sets are consistently impressive, creating a world that looks expensive and fully realized, even when the screenplay fails to explore it. The visual effects are top-notch throughout, helping bring Eternia and its larger-than-life characters to the screen with remarkable detail. Daniel Pemberton’s score is another highlight, balancing nostalgia with modern blockbuster energy while clearly having fun with the material. Several standout editing choices help elevate scenes and inject momentum.
There are a handful of genuinely funny gags sprinkled throughout the film, but they’re not enough to overcome its larger issues. I also don’t remember feeling the stakes for a single moment throughout the movie. The runtime also feels 15-20 minutes too long and could’ve used a crisper length. There is a very smartly executed cameo that seems to be fan service at first, but nicely fits into some of the themes of the story.
Ultimately, Masters of the Universe is simply too outrageous for its own good. The film constantly leans into exaggerated camp without understanding how to balance it against the story’s more emotional moments. As a result, many of the tender scenes lose their impact. That tonal confusion stems directly from the screenplay and prevents the film from fully connecting.
Masters of the Universe feels like a missed opportunity that never discovers the right tone for its legendary source material. Hardcore fans may find enough nostalgic elements to enjoy, but newcomers are unlikely to be converted. Despite its impressive visuals and stronger final act, the overall product is far too frustrating to leave most viewers satisfied or excited for what stories may come next from the world of Eternia.
