He-Man is back in theaters! Our META movie review of Masters of the Universe

"Masters of the Universe" is back in theaters! It's been nearly 40 years since Dolph Lundgren became He-Man on the big screen. Now it's Nicholas Galitzine's turn. Can he pull off the role of He-Man? And what else does the new version of "Masters of the Universe" have to offer? In KinoCheck's META movie review, you'll find out what we think of the film – and how it's been received by other critics!

Here's what it's about

Wouldn't it be nice if the planet Eternia really existed? A world where magic and technology go hand in hand. Colorful, fantastical – full of heroes fighting for good. It's likely the dream of countless boys. Especially if they grew up in the '80s with Mattel's famous He-Man action figures. For Adam Glenn (Nicholas Galitzine), however, this fantasy world isn't just a place of longing. It's his home. The young man is the Prince of Eternia. As a child, he was sent to our world. It was the only way he could escape the villain Skeletor (Jared Leto). Since then, he has been leading a boring life on Earth, dissatisfied with his office job and with only one goal in mind: returning to Eternia. When he finally succeeds, he realizes: his home has changed. Skeletor has seized power – and is doing everything to seize the Sword of Power. To stop him, Adam must rise above himself – and become He-Man.

How does the new He-Man fare?

In Nicholas Galitzine, they've found a decent actor: While his charisma is limited, his performance is solid overall – especially in the film's humorous scenes. The new He-Man actor has also been well-received by many other critics. One of them is YouTuber Jeremy Jahns – who sums it up succinctly:

"Nicholas Galitzine leading as He-Man: I thought he was solid."

Something that should particularly please long-time fans: Compared to the earlier film adaptation starring Dolph Lundgren, the look of the new on-screen heroes is clearly modeled after the classic toy figures. And thus also the "He-Man" animated series from the '80s, which contributed significantly to the franchise's success. The plot, however, is just as simple: The focus is on the action – and two men battling it out to see who gets to wield the Sword of Power in the end. It doesn't get much more complex than that.

The truth lies somewhere in between

For us, that's a bit too little. And for other critics? Overall, "Masters of the Universe" has received a mixed reception: some are enthusiastic, others can't get into it – but most reviews fall somewhere in between. In other words: The film isn't exactly perceived as great art, but by many as enjoyable cinematic fun. Empire writer Helen O'Hara sums up this ambivalence when she writes:

"[Masters of the Universe is] a delightfully silly film."

Criticism of CGI effects

One area where the verdict is clearer: the CGI effects. While the film's evocation of the retro look of the '80s characters is certainly appealing, the quality of the effects leaves much to be desired for a $170 million production. When He-Man rides around on Battle Cat, it should really make a fan's heart race – but the artificial-looking execution makes it look unintentionally funny. Other critics see it similarly. Even in favorable reviews, the CGI effects aren't exactly met with enthusiasm. Take Clint Gage from IGN, for example. He writes:

"A few sequences get overly CG and start to feel a little empty [...]."

Enormous nostalgia factor

And what about the nostalgia factor in "Masters of the Universe"? The film practically embraces the 1980s source material – but also repeatedly keeps its distance from it through ironic detachment. For example, when Adam tries to convince his skeptical fellow humans that he comes from Eternia. Or when he confronts his enemies in Eternia with Earth-style conflict resolution strategies. This leads to a few funny moments, but often comes across as rather silly.

Some other critics also struggle with the humor. YouTuber Dan Murrell says:

"And when your movie is 90% jokes and for me about 85% of those jokes don't really land, we're going to be on a pretty rough road."

Or, to put it in the succinct words of UPI critic Fred Topel:

"'Masters of the Universe' […] is a fun He-Man movie trapped inside a bad comedy."

What does it take to be a man?

We think: Director Travis Knight's film is refreshingly clever when it plays self-deprecatingly with clichés of masculinity. And in doing so, it's somewhat reminiscent of another Mattel adaptation: Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" was also about the tongue-in-cheek deconstruction of masculinity. In "Masters of the Universe," this happens more casually. Sometimes it's a brief, telling glance from a female character as one of Eternia's brave warriors ponders how big the sword in his hand looks. Sometimes The Cure's song "Boys Don't Cry" plays in the background. Yes, exactly: "Boys don't cry." This is also conveyed to young Adam at the beginning of the film – when he is still growing up in Eternia and is still too sensitive for his father, the king. After all, the boy is supposed to become a warrior, a real man. In moments like these, it becomes clear: perhaps Eternia isn't such a dreamland after all.

Conclusion: "Masters of the Universe" pays homage to the classic animated series – but also gives the material a self-deprecating twist. The film has received mixed reviews. We think: The approach is appealing. However, the mix of action and humor unfortunately rarely works. Too often, the whole thing comes across as rather silly. The special effects are also disappointing. On the other hand, He-Man actor Nicholas Galitzine delivers a decent performance.

"Masters of the Universe" hits theaters on June 5, 2026.