'Masters of the Universe' Is Easily One of the Best '80s Reboots, Ever

There's a very funny scene in 1989's Ghostbusters II, when Ray (Dan Aykroyd) and Winston (Ernie Hudson) ask a bunch of kids at a birthday part "Who you gonna call?" and all the kids reply by chanting, "He-Man! He-Man! He-Man!" Well, after you watch the new 2026 reboot of Masters of the Universe, you too will be chanting that name at the top of your lungs. And if you're not, then that means you either hate fun, don't like movies about magical swords, or you are literally Skeletor. Masters of the Universe might not be the most intellectually complex movie of 2026, nor does it even have the layers of humanity found in what is probably this year's best blockbusters so far, Project Hail Mary. But, Masters of the Universe is way better than it has any right to be, is the most fun you'll have at the movie theater this summer, and is, without question, one of the best '80s reboots, ever.

Remember when the first few Transformers reboots came out in the aughts, and everything felt slightly off? The new Masters of the Universe is the opposite of that. Director Travis Knight (who helmed one of the only truly great live-action Transformers films, 2018's Bumblebee) has been on record saying he wanted to capture the "riot" of color that Masters of the Universe had when it was a humble 1980s cartoon for kids. Not only does the new movie achieve that goal, but it will also make you laugh and cheer in nearly every scene. One certainly could enjoy this movie without ever having seen one frame of the old cartoon or played with the iconic toys, but let's get real: This movie is very much for grown-ups in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, who want an answer to a simple question: Was He-Man badass or corny?

The answer to that question is that He-Man was, and is, both corny and badass. As played masterfully (see what I did there) by Nicholas Galitzine, the character of Adam is truly a fleshed-out person in this film, in a way that the Adam/He-Man of the original cartoon was not. This is a movie about a man trying to figure out who he is, what he wants with his life, and whether or not living out his boyhood fantasies will actually work out.

If those themes sound familiar, they should, because Masters of the Universe is basically a metafictional walk through every Hero's Journey tale we've all mainlined since Bilbo got roped into taking an unexpected journey with a bunch of dwarves and an unreliable wizard. The approach that Masters of the Universe takes when it comes to sword and sorcery heroics is partly: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But, at the same time, because Adam is such a richer character in this incarnation - more interesting and funny and likable than he's ever been - Masters of the Universe is also making the thing that wasn't broken work slightly better. In this version, Adam is the kind of young man that perhaps we hope that contemporary tweens and young adults might look up to. In the same way that He-Man always did the right thing and stuck up for people who needed help in the '80s, the new He-Man does all of that, and is also humble and down-to-earth.

As a bonus, through Adam, the movie is also incredibly nerdy about its source material, and the film is overflowing with references and Easter eggs to the long-lived franchise. (And even some references to other sword-swinging franchises, including one truly shocking musical cue!) If the only thing you're hoping to get out of this is a trip down memory lane, via a toybox, you will not be disappointed at all.

If you're looking for a summer blockbuster full of realism and grit, Masters of the Universe is not for you. If you're looking for a massive adventure movie that is uplifting, brimming with fantastic action, and looks like your favorite cartoon come to life, Masters of the Universe delivers. People like to say that certain things will make you feel like a kid again, but with this new He-Man movie, it's actually true. After you leave the theater, you'll want to get your hands on your own magical sword. Masters of the Universe is back, and it truly has the power.

Masters of the Universe hits theaters on June 5.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM.