Masters of the Universe

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Masters of the Universe

PG

Released Aug 7, 1987

1h 45m

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

21%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

When the evil Skeletor (Frank Langella) finds a mysterious power called the Cosmic Key, he becomes nearly invincible. However, courageous warrior He-Man (Dolph Lundgren) locates inventor Gwildor (Billy Barty), who created the Key and has another version of it. During a battle, one of the Keys is transported to Earth, where it is found by teenagers Julie (Courteney Cox) and Kevin (Robert Duncan McNeill). Now both He-Man and Skeletor's forces arrive on Earth searching for the potent weapon.

Critics Consensus

Masters of the Universe is a slapdash adaptation of the He-Man mythos that can't overcome its cynical lack of raison d'etre, no matter how admirably Frank Langella throws himself into the role of Skeletor.

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Johanna Steinmetz

Chicago Tribune

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.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 11, 2014

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Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

With Masters of the Universe -- the latest numbskull entertainment from the creators of Castle Greyskull -- He-Man makes the transition from animation to live action. Taking a live actor along for the ride might have helped.

Rated: 1/4

Jul 11, 2014

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Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

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

Jul 11, 2014

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…a derivative, mad splice of Back to the Future prom anxiety and Terminator’s time-jumps, with added 80’s garnish…

Rated: 1/5

Dec 13, 2023

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Betsy Pisik

Washington Blade

Sure, Masters of the Universe is a movie based on a TV series that was developed to sell war toys to children, but it's a whole lot more: This is pyro-technical submerged sexuality at its intergalactic best.

May 24, 2022

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Josh Winning

Radio Times

Sitting somewhere tonally between Star Wars and Flash Gordon, Masters of the Universe demands to be taken on its own terms and remains an enjoyably kitschy lark throughout.

Rated: 3/5

May 6, 2022

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Luis Otavio F

Masters of the Universe offers good moments, the makeup is very well done, but it doesn't last for long.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/31/24

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Clinton T

This movie has great actors and I love he man and skeletor in this movie the costumes look real and you can't tell if it's costumes are not and it goes between worlds perfectly I saw it when I was seven years old and I thought it was better than Star Wars....

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

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Radio O

By the owner of greyskull One of the best fantasy movies ever

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/18/24

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Audience Member

For many of us, it’s a nostalgic blast from our childhood and fans of 80s sci-fi will get their money’s worth. Frank Langella steals the show as Skeletor and its classic heroes are the kind missing from much of today’s more socially-nuanced storytelling. He-Man rescues those in trouble, fights for those who can’t and treats his friends with respect and loyalty. He’s good for the sake of goodness, and as of this writing, I found it refreshing and charming. Courtney Cox also shines amidst a likable cast of sincere, good-natured characters fighting against the forces of evil. The villains are also pleasantly one-note, power-mad for the sinful pleasures of evil, and they pay for it. Skeletor and company don’t see themselves as the true heroes saving the universe, as many of our modern day movie villains do. They’re bad because they’re bad and they relish it, plain and simple. The movie is brisk, the practical effects are beautiful and the heart is big! Love this one!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/01/24

Full Review

Salvatore C

It's a bad movie that I liked as a kid.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

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Allan C

It's so bad, it's almost good. I enjoy it purely for the nostalgia. Frank Langella nails it as Skeletor.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/30/24

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Gary Goddard

Director

Dolph Lundgren

He-Man

Frank Langella

Skeletor

Meg Foster

Evil-Lyn

Courteney Cox

Julie Winston

James Tolkan

Detective Lubic

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Synopsis

When the evil Skeletor (Frank Langella) finds a mysterious power called the Cosmic Key, he becomes nearly invincible. However, courageous warrior He-Man (Dolph Lundgren) locates inventor Gwildor (Billy Barty), who created the Key and has another version of it. During a battle, one of the Keys is transported to Earth, where it is found by teenagers Julie (Courteney Cox) and Kevin (Robert Duncan McNeill). Now both He-Man and Skeletor's forces arrive on Earth searching for the potent weapon.

Director: Gary Goddard
Producer: Yoram Globus, Menahem Golan
Screenwriter: David Odell
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Cannon Films
Production Co: Edward R. Pressman Film Corp., Golan-Globus, Cannon Group
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 7, 1987, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.3M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround