Masters of the Universe
Amazon MGM Studios | Release Date: June 5, 2026 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
52
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 44 Critic Reviews
Positive:
18
Mixed:
18
Negative:
8

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Film ThreatRicky ArchuletaJun 15, 2026
Masters of the Universe is a thrilling ride featuring high-octane action sequences and performances fueled by an infectious, heroic heart that make the audience root for the “good guys” to emerge victorious. Travis Knight and team have successfully captured the magic of 80’s cinema with explosive energy, creating a film that will make you feel like a kid again, ready to shout, “I have the power.” Read full review
83
Original-CinJohn KirkJun 2, 2026
It’s a winning film. Plenty of ‘80s vibes but a lot of fun to be seen and shared with multiple generations of viewers. Read full review
80
The Daily BeastNick SchagerJun 3, 2026
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, and fans are apt to overdose on it with this rollicking live-action affair. Read full review
80
Time OutLarushka Ivan-ZadehJun 2, 2026
Where other reboots lean into dour origin stories, this one is as brightly coloured as a bowl of e-numbered breakfast cereal. Read full review
80
Screen RantMolly FreemanJun 2, 2026
I can't speak to whether it's a faithful adaptation of the source material, but as someone who wasn't previously a He-Man fan, I'm eager to see where this franchise goes – and there are plenty of indications that Mattel and Amazon MGM are confident that Masters of the Universe could get a sequel. Read full review
80
IGNClint GageJun 2, 2026
While Nicholas Galitzine and Idris Elba provide the thematic structure to the film, Jared Leto’s Skeletor gives a delightfully weird and cartoonish energy to every scene he’s in. It’s a film that appreciates the source material, silly names and all, and proves the best way to add to a 50-year-old franchise that’s about toys as much as anything else is to not take it too seriously. Read full review
80
The Irish TimesDonald ClarkeJun 2, 2026
All solid good fun. All professionally honed. A minor miracle. Read full review
75
New York PostJohnny OleksinskiJun 3, 2026
The zany tone of this appealing action-comedy-fantasy combo is a lot like that of 2023’s very good “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” in how it goofily distills high nerdery for the masses and has a blast doing so. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleZaki HasanJun 2, 2026
Freed from the burden of contemporary relevance, “Masters of the Universe” succeeds by doing something refreshingly straightforward: telling a rousing fantasy adventure with conviction, humor and heart. Read full review
75
USA TodayBrian TruittJun 2, 2026
There’s enough infectious energy and heart to give this sugar-bombed throwback a mainstream appeal more sizable than Galitzine’s impressive deltoids. Read full review
75
ConsequenceLiz Shannon MillerJun 2, 2026
Given the choice between a silly take on this material and a grounded one, the silly version feels far preferable. If nothing else, the film is doing its best to have fun. The way playing with one's toys should feel. Read full review
70
The New York TimesGlenn KennyJun 4, 2026
The self-mockery is good-natured rather than disdainful, a joke even the most earnest fans of the old cartoon can appreciate. (One hopes.) Read full review
70
ColliderVictoria LuxfordJun 2, 2026
Far from a gritty reimagining, this new version of Masters of the Universe is determined to wink at the camera and appeal to your nostalgia. Not everything works, and it would have been nice to have a more menacing villain, but it's a good time if you leave your cynicism at the door. Read full review
67
AwardsWatchTrace SauveurJun 2, 2026
It’s plainly imperfect: overlong, sometimes too winking, and occasionally flattened by the digitally homogenized look of modern blockbusters. But as a version of the property that bridges demographic and generational gaps to deliver a worthwhile take on a virtually dead franchise, it has at least a little bit of power. Read full review
63
The Seattle TimesKatie WalshJun 5, 2026
The new message is nice, but the most crucial element is the carefully calibrated tone, of light irony and deep reverence, which will appeal to Gen X and elder millennials, who have developed a nostalgic, yet winking appreciation for the material. Read full review
63
ReelViewsJames BerardinelliJun 4, 2026
Masters of the Universe inhabits a gray zone where it's not quite humorous enough to be dismissed as a parody and enjoyed on that level, but it's also not strong enough to be viewed as some kind of epic fantasy. Read full review
63
Boston GlobeJun 2, 2026
A watchable, if overlong, replica of the “He-Man” cartoon. A film made with this much love would have been right up my alley when I was 13. Read full review
63
RogerEbert.comClint WorthingtonJun 2, 2026
It wants to be the crowd-pleasing, audience-nudging, Easter-Egg-having ode to the toy line that Mattel clearly desires, while also avoiding accusations of taking the whole thing too seriously. In so doing, it’s a film that tries to serve two masters, and doesn’t have the power to really honor either. Read full review
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