After years of anticipation, Masters of the Universe arrives with everything needed to launch a major fantasy franchise: an iconic brand, a large budget, impressive visual effects, and director Travis Knight, whose previous work on Bumblebee proved he understands how to balance spectacle with heart. Unfortunately, none of those ingredients come together. Instead, the film becomes one of the biggest disappointments in recent blockbuster cinema and, in my opinion, one of the weakest superhero-inspired movies ever made.
That may sound harsh, but this adaptation never finds a reason to justify its existence. Even films that have become punching bags among comic book fans—Captain Marvel, Captain America: Brave New World, Morbius, and Eternals—at least offered memorable action scenes, charismatic performances, or interesting ideas worth discussing. Masters of the Universe struggles to provide any of them. It spends over two hours introducing characters and mythology while rarely making the audience care about what happens next.
The story follows Prince Adam, who is separated from Eternia after Skeletor attacks his kingdom and steals the legendary Sword of Power. Years later, Adam discovers his destiny once again and returns to save Eternia from darkness. On paper, it sounds like the beginning of a grand fantasy adventure, but the screenplay never develops meaningful drama or emotional stakes. The narrative follows familiar blockbuster formulas without adding its own personality, making every major revelation feel predictable.
Nicholas Galitzine takes on the role of Adam and He-Man, but his performance never convinces as the legendary hero. He certainly looks the part physically, yet charisma cannot be built in the gym. Throughout the movie, his performance feels surprisingly flat, and the character lacks the commanding screen presence expected from one of the most recognizable action heroes of the 1980s. Instead of carrying the film, Adam often becomes its weakest element, and many scenes lose momentum whenever the spotlight returns to him.
Jared Leto plays Skeletor, a role that should completely dominate the screen. While the makeup and visual design are impressive, the performance never reaches the level needed to elevate the material. Personally, I have found that many of Leto’s recent blockbuster performances have failed to connect with audiences, and Masters of the Universe does little to change that impression. Rather than creating a memorable villain, his Skeletor feels exaggerated without becoming intimidating, theatrical without becoming entertaining, and ultimately forgettable.
Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, and Morena Baccarin do what they can with limited material, but the screenplay gives them little opportunity to develop interesting relationships or emotional arcs. Most supporting characters feel like they exist only to move the story toward the next CGI battle.
Travis Knight previously directed Bumblebee, a film praised for combining nostalgic action with genuine emotion. Here, however, his strengths are buried beneath a script that constantly interrupts dramatic moments with self-aware humor. Instead of embracing the rich mythology of Eternia, the movie often seems embarrassed by it, relying on jokes that quickly become repetitive.
Technically, the production values are impressive. The costume designs faithfully recreate many classic characters, the visual effects are polished, and Daniel Pemberton’s score adds energy throughout the adventure. Unfortunately, technical quality alone cannot save a film when the storytelling fails to engage. The action scenes are competent but never exciting enough to become memorable, and despite the enormous scale, the movie rarely creates the sense of wonder expected from a fantasy epic.
For me, Masters of the Universe represents everything currently wrong with big-budget franchise filmmaking. It mistakes expensive visual effects for excitement, constant jokes for personality, and familiar formulas for compelling storytelling. Even some of the most criticized superhero films of recent years feel more entertaining because they at least contain memorable characters or moments that stay with the audience after the credits roll.
Fans who simply want to revisit Eternia on the big screen may still find some enjoyment in the visuals and nostalgic references. Everyone else is likely to leave wondering how a property with so much history and potential ended up feeling so lifeless. Sometimes even the Sword of Power is not enough to save a movie that never discovers its own strength.
