Masters of the Universe Brings He-Man to Life with a Playful Edge

After decades of stalled attempts, Travis Knight has finally delivered a live-action Masters of the Universe. The film opens on Eternia, where a just King and Queen (James Purefoy, Charlotte Riley) send their son Prince Adam away with the Sword of Power. Fifteen years later Adam (Nicholas Galitzine), raised on Earth, rediscovers the sword and returns to find Skeletor (Jared Leto) has conquered his home.

The movie leans into the cartoon’s look and lore, offering abundant fan service: sets, effects and characters feel as if they’ve leapt from animation into the real world. Action set-pieces, including the opening invasion of Castle Grayskull, deliver the summer spectacle the story calls for, while rapid-fire gags make it clear the film rarely takes itself seriously.

That levity sometimes undercuts more solemn moments, but the intention is entertainment over reinvention. Nicholas Galitzine grounds the role by playing Adam as a well-meaning, often inept everyman who grows into leadership.

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