Millennial cinephiles are eating good this season. We just had a Super Mario Bros. movie, a new Mortal Kombat movie, Scary Movie is back, another Jackass experience is on the way, and we can’t forget the Michael Jackson biopic. Nicolas Cage is Spider-Man in Spider‑Man Noir, imagine that, we’ve lived long enough to see Cage play Spider‑Man in a live-action series.
Spielberg is back with a new project, Toy Story has an upcoming instalment, a Street Fighter is also coming, and yet another Spider‑Man film is on the horizon. As I said, millennials will be eating good, but the main course, the one title that stands out as the ultimate millennial nostalgia trip is Masters of the Universe.
Yes, He‑Man. It’s been four decades, you remember the cartoon, the toys, the comics, or even the 1987 live‑action film? Well He-Man is back, this time on the big‑screen. Directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, and David Callaham, this 2026 fantasy epic stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He‑Man, alongside Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Charlotte Riley, Kristen Wiig, Morena Baccarin, and Idris Elba.
The story follows Prince Adam as he returns to Eternia to embrace his destiny as He‑Man and defend his world against Skeletor’s evil forces.
On paper, I didn’t think it was going to work. The original cartoon and even the Netflix revivals were rich in world‑building, full of quirky characters and imaginative landscapes. Translating that into a live‑action film without losing the charm felt like a tall order. Yet, they pulled it off.
Beyond that, the film also finds a way of balancing nostalgia for long‑time fans with accessibility for newcomers.
It assumes that the audience has never heard of Eternia and handles the introduction of the world, the characters, and the stakes with care, ensuring everything is explained and presented clearly. Overall, It’s treated like a straightforward fantasy adventure, not an inside joke for fans.
I love this translation of Eternia. The CGI isn’t flawless, but the creative design of the world works. Costumes, performances, abilities and characters, no matter how absurd, are treated with respect, making the final product feel like the best version of the cartoon we’ve ever had.
Talking animals and eccentric side characters might be jarring for those unfamiliar, but they add to the fantasy flavour rather than detract from it. The world is colourful with cinematography that looks like it’s immersion-driven, with a lot of sweeping wide shots.
The action sequences are cool rather than epic. He-Man gets his moment in the third act. We do get the characters with unique abilities getting to use them, and they make it make sense.
The film is 132 minutes, which I appreciate; if you’re paying for a ticket, you want to feel you’ve had your money’s worth.
Apart from that, the length allows the story to breathe: setting up the premise, introducing the conflict, and delivering a somewhat satisfying resolution.
Skeletor, played by Jared Leto, is a standout. He’s terrifying, charismatic, and funny. The filmmakers even managed to give him readable expressions without a face, using clever lighting and design.
Skeletor steals the show, but the supporting characters are all given a substantial part in the film. No one feels wasted, except that, in the future, I would really like to see more of this version of Evil-Lyn played by Alison Brie and her relationship with Skeletor.
As for Prince Adam, Galitzine does an okay job. He’s charismatic, and the transformation to He‑Man is convincing, with a clear contrast between the two personas.
Physically, he looks like the animated character, though I expected him to look ripped, like he stepped out of a Zack Snyder film. Since we are still in an era that forbids cool heroic male figures or overly attractive or appealing women, what we get in the writing, like Superman from last year, is watered-down, safe and generic characters that feel like they were lifted straight from a checklist.
The father‑daughter subplot adds emotional weight, but the film feels more like a celebration of Eternia than a deep character study.
The pacing works for the story, but honestly I was too lost in the visuals to even be bothered. The visual effects occasionally show their seams, but the colourful backdrops, wide shots, and chase sequences make up for the runtime.
This is a film that begs to be seen on the big screen. The framing, compositions, and sheer scope look far better projected larger than they would on a small screen.
This is not a serious movie. Tonally, the film sticks close to the cartoon. There are moments of tension and genuine stakes, but much of the dialogue and interaction is played for laughs.
In fact, there is a moment in the third act where characters do something straight out of the cartoon. I can see some people getting annoyed by random moments of quips and jokes that sometimes feel out of place. All in all, it’s a feel‑good fantasy, light‑hearted and accessible, which might frustrate viewers expecting a darker, grittier take.
There are surprises too, including a clever nod to the previous film that fans will appreciate. The music combined with the visuals makes for an immersive experience; for fans of the original animated show, you will pick up some familiar audio signatures.
As I mentioned earlier, the story is accessible, and it doesn’t carry the weight of a truly epic blockbuster. It’s more casual entertainment than groundbreaking cinema. But that’s fine with a dynamic world like Eternia, and especially if you grew up with the cartoon.
Masters of the Universe is exactly what the trailers promise: a fun, accessible fantasy adventure that honours its roots without alienating newcomers. It’s not the best film of the year, but it’s one of the most enjoyable cinematic experiences I have had this year. For fans, it’s a chance to relive childhood memories on the big screen.
