Jun 04, 2026 5:27pm IST
‘Masters of the Universe’ Movie Review: Jared Leto As Skeletor Steals The Show In This Nostalgic Fantasy Adventure
Way before the Avengers invaded our cinematic universe, there was another superhero quietly mastering the art of ruling his kingdom and battling an evil overlord and his cronies. For anyone born in the 1980s, He-Man was a staple of television viewing. The animated series was one of the coolest things on screen, and the 1983 show became an integral part of the childhood of many early millennials who eagerly consumed everything this universe had to offer.
Four decades later, the first live-action version of He-Man arrives in theatres. For anyone who owned the action figures or, if you were lucky enough, the entire Castle Grayskull playset, this film feels like a test of faith. Will Nicholas Galitzine make a worthy Prince of Eternia? Is Jared Leto the perfect fit for the skull-faced Skeletor? These questions are enough to make any He-Man fan anxious.
To keep it short, the answer is a mixed bag, but one that contains far more victories than defeats.
Related Stories
First things first, the filmmakers have gone all out to bring the Mattel toy line to life, delivering a large-scale fantasy spectacle worthy of every cheer it receives. The plot remains refreshingly simple. Adam, aka He-Man, must save Eternia from destruction, while Skeletor and his loyal ally Evil Lyn (Alison Brie) seek to harness every magical power available in order to seize control.
The writing is surprisingly effective. Soaked in sarcasm and dry humor, many scenes work precisely because they refuse to take themselves too seriously. There are numerous callbacks to the original series, along with bits of social commentary that highlight how different Adam’s modern-day world is from Eternia.
What truly elevates the film, however, is its cast. Galitzine shoulders a tremendous amount of responsibility and carries it effortlessly. Beyond the physicality and charm required for the role, he understands that He-Man is at once heroic, vulnerable and occasionally goofy. Camila Mendes makes for an excellent Teela, and together the two actors rescue even some of the weaker scenes through sheer charisma and comic timing.
But the real scene stealer is Jared Leto’s Skeletor. He is not simply evil. He is delightfully twisted. His hatred is not reserved for He-Man alone. He seems equally irritated by his own army of incompetent minions. It is this blend of menace, vanity and dark humor that makes Skeletor endlessly entertaining whenever he is on screen.
On the flip side, the film takes a while to find its rhythm. Some of the sequences set in the modern world never quite land, particularly Adam’s interactions with his HR representative at work, which feel oddly misplaced and underdeveloped. Fans may also find themselves wishing for more screen time for beloved characters such as Orko and Battle Cat.
Yet these shortcomings are easy to overlook. He-Man knows exactly what it wants to be and rarely apologizes for it. It is a big, colorful fantasy adventure packed with humor, action and enough nostalgia to satisfy longtime fans while remaining accessible to newcomers. It may not reinvent the superhero genre, but it succeeds where it matters most. It makes Eternia feel real, exciting and worth fighting for. By the time the credits roll, you may find yourself wanting to pick up a Power Sword and declare, “I have the power!”
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.