Masters of the Universe

Play trailer

1:36

Masters of the Universe

PG

1987

1h 45m

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

22%

Tomatometer

32 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

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

07/11/2014

2.5/4

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.

Go to Full Review

Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

07/11/2014

1/4

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.

Go to Full Review

Michael Wilmington

Los Angeles Times

07/11/2014

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

Go to Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

Jun 28

It’s a mess, albeit a definitely not short on action and rather unintentionally hilarious one.

Go to Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

Jun 10

It's a mess, but a beloved mess.

Go to Full Review

Peter McPhee

Winnipeg Sun

Jun 8

It is an expensive, exceptionally well crafted film that has every penny up there on the screen, but it is still a flop for anyone over 10.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Pipe Smoking L

@RT92467537 Jul 5

Frank Langella's epic performance as a villain! He admitted this was his most favorite role to play, and it shows. Everyone was cast perfectly in this movie. If you're looking for purity of lore and Battle Cat, it's not happening. Not a movie for zealous Fan Boys. Go back to your drippy den and complain across the web about the crime against humanity the first Mario movie was or how they couldn't fit all accurate detail of the X-Men origin story into 1 hour and 30 minutes of film. You will criticize and hate this if you are a crusader-nerd. Billy Barty receives Top Billing. And he deserves it! A fun movie full of great costuming, scenery, characters, atmosphere... and it continues to move along from start to finish. The effects are actually really cool too. If you love 80's Sci-Fi, fantasy movies... this is a Must See. Best part about the movie, you get to see young Courtney Cox run around.

See more

marvel chad M

@chadtalbert585 Jun 29

masters of the universe dolph lundgren is the best movie ever you should buy this movie on blue ray or dvd action packed ever

See more

Joshua H

@JoshuaHawes Jun 25

Yeah, this isn't a great He-Man movie; it's not even set in Eternia. It feels like, because of the time it was made, the special effects aren't quite at the level story of this magnitude should be; also, He-Man doesn't actually have a character arc, so yeah, not great. However, there is a fun 80s vibe to it that is a lot of fun that makes it decent enough.

See more

Elvis D

@Elvis-Del-Valle Jun 25

Masters Of The Universe es en esencia una película bastante buena y tiene un potencial que fue limitado debido al presupuesto usado. Tiene rediseños y reinvenciones de los personajes que son mayormente acertados y logran adaptarlos bien a la acción viva. He-Man es fiel a su rol de héroe humilde como en la serie y Skeletor está mejorado como villano tiránico. Ambos son sin duda de lo mejor que esta película ofrece. No es la adaptación definitiva que la serie animada merecía tener, pero es una adaptación lo bastante decente y acertada para merecer algo de aprecio. Independientemente de que se haya basado en la serie animada y en los juguetes de Mattel, no deja de ser otra joya de la década de los 80. Mi calificación final para esta película es un 8/10.

See more

Landon C.

@GoodJourney Jun 15

Wow! Dolph IS He-Man! Some great sci fi and swords from the 80’s. They did a great job with what they were able to accomplish. Frank Langella is a legendary 1st on-screen Skeletor. Stay for the after-credit scene!

See more

Jos Rafael J

@RT18406077 Jun 15

AINDA E A MELHOR VERSAO PRA MIM

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

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%

41%

Mannequin: On the Move

Watchlist

The Rocketeer

73%

65%

The Rocketeer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Rocketeer

Legend

33%

73%

Legend

Watchlist

Always

71%

58%

Always

Watchlist

Cocoon: The Return

31%

33%

Cocoon: The Return

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Masters of the Universe: Release Date, Cast, Trailers & More

Character Face-Off: The Best Version of 15 Mega Popular Movie and TV Characters

Justin Marks Talks New He-Man Movie

Masters of the Universe (1987): Trailer 1

1:36

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