Masters of the Universe

Name: Masters of the Universe
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy
Released: August 7, 1987
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 35
Cast: Billy Barty, Chelsea Field, Christina Pickles, Courteney Cox, Dolph Lundgren

1987

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Ratings

See All

4.9

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4.9	Your Score
4.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Masters Of The Universe

Now Playing: Masters Of The Universe

Movie Details & Credits

Cannon Group, The | Release Date: August 7, 1987 | PG

Starring: Billy Barty, Chelsea Field, Christina Pickles, Courteney Cox, Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, James Tolkan, Jon Cypher, Meg Foster, Robert Duncan McNeill

Summary: The heroic warrior He-Man battles against lord Skeletor and his armies of darkness for control of Castle Grayskull.

Director: Gary Goddard

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Fantasy

Rating: PG

Runtime: 106 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Johanna Steinmetz

Everyone knows how the battles will turn out. It's what's between them that raises Masters Of The Universe ever so slightly above the mediocre. Read full review

Kathryn Foster

Masters of the Universe is an enjoyable escape, borrowing rather successfully from E.T., Star Wars and Back to the Future. [17 Aug 1987, p.C5]

Alan Ng

It’s a good-looking movie overall. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

A misfiring, underdone epic that takes its inspiration not from life or literature, but from a toy line and the cartoon series it inspired. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Little kids at play have come up with craftier plots, better characterization and conceivably more spectacular effects -- provided their mothers let them play with matches. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

All elements are of epic proportions in this Conan-Star Wars hybrid ripoff, based on the best-selling line of children’s toys. Epitome of Good takes on Epitome of Evil for nothing less than the future of the Universe, and the result is a colossal bore. Read full review

Empire William Thomas

The first film to be based on a line of toys, this might not be the last, but it'd take something awful to replace it as the worst. Read full review

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Fireblaster31

Dec 11, 2021

Okay I feel like the negative ratings are in the wrong place because this is for the movie and people are talking about a show.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ckittywoman

Jun 18, 2022

For Mattel's Masters of the Universe fans and Dolph Lundgren fans, this is perfect movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MasterMovieBoss

May 15, 2023

Ja, was soll ich sagen. Dieser Film strotzt nur so vor genialen Effekten, schauspielerischen Höchstleistungen, phänomenaler Verstands erweiternder Musik und einer emotionalen Geschichte die sogar Der Herr der Ringe in den Schatten stellt. Dieser Film ist das unterschätzteste Meisterwerk dasJa, was soll ich sagen. Dieser Film strotzt nur so vor genialen Effekten, schauspielerischen Höchstleistungen, phänomenaler Verstands erweiternder Musik und einer emotionalen Geschichte die sogar Der Herr der Ringe in den Schatten stellt. Dieser Film ist das unterschätzteste Meisterwerk das ich jemals sehen durfte. Er hat mein Leben und meinen Blick auf die Welt verändert.
Ein Must See, für jeden ohne Ausnahme.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Lother

Jul 25, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. MOTU Viewer: Hey, so why would Teela decide to abandon her post, her dream job, her army, her kingdom, two grieving parents, and disown her family just because she didn't know Adam was He-Man? Like, it's not a great place to be, but loads of ppl didn't know he was He-Man. Even his own dad. And the ones who did know, knew because the Sorceress told them back in the day, not Adam, and only so Adam would have guides and support while he bore the burden of being He-Man and keeping the secrets of Grayskull and the sword of power safe. All this seems like a bit of a wild reaction if I'm honest, and completely out of character for Teela. Why is she such an emotionally resentful and self-centred person now?
Show: Don't know. But look how strong and female she is. And gay.
Viewer: Yeah, about that, how come you imply she's gay now, but do nothing with it in terms of the narrative or in developing her character. This kinda reminds me of Loki's throwaway bi-sexuality. You do less here than shows who first did this sort of thing more than a decade ago, like Korra and Xena. But these days, isn't this just cynical and lazy queerbaiting?
Show: Nope. It's (reads from cue card) diverse and inclusive.
Viewer: Hey, so this Andra girl is smart (except when she doesn't know anything about a massive war that happened a handful of years ago for some reason), brave, and pretty self-less. She seems to want to be a hero and help Eternia. This motivation would appear to put her wants and needs at complete odds with Teela's, who only cares about money and not being a hero. Why at no point during the series does that ever become a point of conflict as more and more people die and the mission becomes more dangerous?
Show: Don't know.
Viewer: Hey, so how did Teela manage to summon magical power she had no idea she possessed when fighting not-Skeletor in hell? What did she do to subdue him in his own house, and nab the sword? It seemed to be more than turning his game against him, and something awakened in her akin to the Sorceress' power. How did any of that work? Why did it seem so easy and convenient? Even the Sorceress can't do magic like that quite so easily. What gives?
Show: Don't know. But she's his worst nightmare now!
Viewer: (sighs...) she certainly is. So, if she's doing magic now, and she hates magic, shouldn't she have less of a gung-ho reaction to it? Shouldn't she be slightly disturbed at what this means? And why doesn't she, you know, just do it again and own not-Skeletor instead of letting Orko **** die and blaming Evil-Lyn for it?
Show:
Viewer: Hey, so why does Teela mourn the death of Roboto more than Adam? In fact, if he has all of Duncan's memories, wouldn't he also have known Adam was He-Man? Is she not pissed off at him as well?
Show: Because she's a complex and emotional creature, misogynist. And as for the Roboto knowing everything Duncan knows... yea, I guess Teela kinda forgot about that.
Viewer: Hey, so does Teela really not speak to her dad, Orko, Cringer, or Roboto after leaving the palace until the events of episode 3? She has no idea how sick Orko was or how they were doing? But wouldn't she have wanted answers about Adam and the secret once she calmed down and got herself together? Wouldn't she want to reconsider all her rash decisions before this point and reach out to her father to understand the truth that was hidden from her? Did she really just cut them all out of her life because they told her a lie? Like, completely and forever cut them out? Is Teela a psychopath? A narcissist?
Show: No, she's a strong woman now, and to be a strong woman, you simply need to be just like a man, but without the reason or accountability. And you need muscles.
Viewer: About the muscles...
Show: She's a warrior, you big chauvinist. Girl warriors have muscles.
Viewer: Okay... then why does Evil-Lyn have huge muscles? She's not a physical warrior. She's a mage who needs hired guns to do full-on fighting for her.
Show: Err...
Viewer: While we're at it, if all the magic's gone from Eternia except for wee scraps here and there, how is Evil-Lyn initially doing that disguise spell? And why is she being presented as some sort of spurned yet redeemable anti-hero rather than Skeletor's co-conspirator?
Show: Now you listen to us, boy. All women are inherently good. All men are liars, heretics, cheats, bad fathers, skeleton monsters, or DEAD. Keep up. You're just angry because you think we ruined He-Man.
Viewer: You didn't ruin him. How could you? He's not in it. You didn't ruin Skeletor either. Because he's also not in it - and it's probably for the best because I don't trust you to write for that supreme, meme machine, sassy **** You ruined Teela. You kinda ruined Man At Arms. The only one you didn't ruin was Orko and that's because you **** killed him instead.
Show: I'm so glad we could subvert your expectations.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GhostyToasty

Jul 26, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I tried not to rag on it initially because while I'm incredibly resistant to shoving main characters out for female led shows, I thought I'd give it a chance and get over my initial bias.

So regardless of retconning the female lead into a pseudo-lesbian which was just never explore properly, regardless of the annoying Kevin Smith vibes, and regardless of the fact that He-Man is notably got the least amount of screen time out of anyone, I thought it might be interesting.

It was not, it was not interesting.

Genuinely tried to like it, and if they hadn't made the main character, Teela, into some weird amalgamation of a twitter mob and a whiny **** and actually made her like her 80's counterpart then I'd have probably have really dug it.

The concept of He-Man not being centre stage and having to uncover the mystery around him is great in concept, it was absolutely not great in execution. The only thing they executed was the brand.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

jayjayjackob

Jul 23, 2021

Woke politic is something I’ll always dislike

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kashyd

Jul 26, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The trailer promised He-Man and since I am a fan of the original I was psyched! I had all the toys!!! After watching it I felt disappointed that He-Man and Skeletor are not the main characters and the series tries to shove in my throat "woke" material. Andra and Teela feel out of place and Teela motivations are laughable. Teela is motivated by PMS and leaves all her people because she didn't liked to be lied! What a load of bullsh*t! I hope this show gets canceled, this will never be canon to the fans!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS