'Masters of the Universe' is sugary breakfast cereal in movie form – Review

Brian Truitt, USA TODAYTue, June 2, 2026 at 1:01 PM UTC

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“Masters of the Universe” is the kind of popcorn movie that only feels right accompanied by a big delicious bowl of outrageously sweet breakfast cereal.

Directed by Travis Knight (“Bumblebee”), the fantasy action-adventure is brings back the 1980s heyday of He-Man with contemporary themes and flair. Plus, of course, big muscles courtesy of human action figure Nicholas Galitzine.

While similar Reagan-era franchises such as G.I. Joe and Transformers might have gotten their high-profile cinematic reboots earlier, “Masters of the Universe” (★★★ out of four; rated PG-13; in theaters June 5) is the most faithful to those glorious toybox years with playful sincerity, cheeky humor and over-the-top goofiness.

Adam (Nicholas Galitzine, center) returns to save Eternia alongside friends Roboto (voiced by Kristen Wiig), Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), Teela (Camila Mendes) and Cringer in the action-adventure "Masters of the Universe."

Galitzine stars as Adam, a prince of the realm of Eternia, where pretty much everybody looks jacked. As a pint-sized, not-warrior-iffic 10-year-old, he was sent away, alongside a magical power sword, to Earth when his home was attacked by the evil forces of Skeletor (Jared Leto). During his trippy journey, Adam lost the weapon he was supposed to protect, and now, as a grown-up working a soulless HR job, he searches for the sword that hopefully takes him to the home Adam remembers through pictures he drew as a child.

It’s an obsession that affects both his personal and professional lives. But Adam does find the sword, which catapults him into a quest full of punching and self-discovery that returns him to Eternia, reunites him with childhood friend Teela (Camila Mendes), and pits him against skull-faced villain Skeletor to save his world.

And yes, if you know anything about He-Man, Adam does turn into a ridiculously buff blonde barbarian in a furry loincloth when he holds his sword aloft and yells, "By the power of Grayskull ... I have the power!" (Try it, it's fun.)

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While Galitzine certainly looks the part, what really works is the more subtle aspects he infuses in Adam’s character paired with Knight’s vision. Like an awkward man-child, Adam is obviously really in shape under his pink shirt even though he gets winded easily and avoids fights at first – it’s not the boulder biceps but some growing up he needs to ultimately save the day.

One might not expect a well-acted venture out of something where dudes named Fisto, Ram Man and Trap-Jaw are running around, but that’s definitely an area where “Masters of the Universe” surprises.

In addition to Galitzine, Idris Elba gets to chew on scenery and a redemption arc as Teela’s battle-ready dad Man-At-Arms, and Jared Leto pulls off his most enjoyable role in years, melding bombastic theatricality and bad-boss vibes as Skeletor. He and Alison Brie, as his right-hand woman Evil-Lyn, completely understand the merrily malevolent assignment.

The evil and theatrically bombastic Skeletor (Jared Leto) leads his forces in a takeover of Eternia in "Masters of the Universe."

“Masters” does take a bit to get rolling tonally. It leans a little serious in the beginning before settling in to a pocket of weird, though it never goes full camp. (Like 50% more camp would have been OK.)

It also wears its ‘80s influence proudly, from Brian May’s shredding guitar riffs on the soundtrack and a Queen "Highlander" needle drop – though “Flash Gordon” is the film’s single biggest inspiration – to paying homage to Dolph Lundgren’s forgettable 1987 He-Man flick.

The movie is clearly aimed at a certain audience who watched Saturday morning cartoons back in the day and, if their He-Man figure’s arm broke off, would use Faker as their resident Eternian hero. (If you know, you know.) Yet there’s enough infectious energy and heart to give this sugar-bombed throwback a mainstream appeal more sizable than Galitzine’s impressive deltoids.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Masters of the Universe' review – Nicholas Galitzine's a real He-Man

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