Masters of the Universe

Play trailer

Masters of the Universe

PG

1987

1h 45m

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

21%

Tomatometer

29 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.

Read Critics Reviews

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Perhaps the biggest fault to this picture is Lundgren’s casting; he certainly looks the part, but he brings nothing to the table when it comes to acting.

Rated: 3/10

Mar 2, 2025

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Read all reviews

Stephen C

Success in 1.75 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dubbed and subtitled in worldwide studios!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Filmed in 1987 in color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Celebrating 40 years as of: August 07th, 2027!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/30/25

Full Review

xpig332 B

I was too old for the cartoon and that’s probably why I couldn’t get into the movie, it took itself too seriously. For me it might’ve worked as a comedy with Bruce Campbell!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/25

Full Review

Mitch B

I love this movie and actually prefer it over the television show. It's dark and Frank Langella shines as Skeletor, but I wish He-man had had more of a presence and I wish there had been more added. But, to me, this is still a solid movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

Full Review

D3Z 1

I'm not entirely sure what exactly the Masters of the Universe is trying to convey. The plot as well as its action sequences were dull and forgettable and its titular hero or even its characters did not really seem to get much shine and share anything memorable.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/17/25

Full Review

Michael D L

A movie that is decent at times the series is better and more Iconic

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/23/25

Full Review

Ultimo P

This was an instant cult classic. Everything anyone could want for 80's cheese. Skeletor was magnificent stealing the show and who could not admire Evil-Lyn. I haven't laughed this much in decades

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Gary Goddard

Director

Dolph Lundgren

He-Man

Frank Langella

Skeletor

Meg Foster

Evil-Lyn

Courteney Cox

Julie Winston

James Tolkan

Detective Lubic

Mannequin: On the Move

12%

40%

Mannequin: On the Move

Watchlist

The Rocketeer

67%

65%

The Rocketeer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Rocketeer

Legend

43%

73%

Legend

Watchlist

Always

70%

58%

Always

Watchlist

Cocoon: The Return

31%

34%

Cocoon: The Return

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Why Rotten Tomatoes Is So Wrong About 'Masters of the Universe'?

52:27

View more videos

View more photos

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: Cannon Group, Edward R. Pressman Film Corp., Golan-Globus
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