MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE First Reactions Call It “Epic Good Time” and One of the Biggest Surprise Hits of 2026
The first reactions for Masters of the Universe have arrived, and it sounds like director Travis Knight may have pulled off something fans never expected.
The long-awaited live-action take on the classic franchise premiered in Los Angeles, and early social media reactions are throwing around phrases like “nonstop fun,” “epic good time,” and even “one of the biggest surprises of 2026.”
That’s a pretty wild turnaround for a movie that many fans, like myself, approached with cautious optimism.
The film stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, who’s been living on Earth after being sent away from Eternia as a child. Years later, Adam is still searching for the Power Sword and a way back home.
Once he finally returns, he discovers Skeletor has conquered Eternia, leaving Adam with one last shot to embrace his destiny as He-Man.
As we’ve seen in the trailer, we know the story leans hard into the weird fantasy energy of the original cartoon while mixing in comedy, cosmic adventure, and over-the-top spectacle. Several reactions even compared the movie to Marvel’s Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy.
The AU Review’s Peter Gray praised Galitzine’s comedic performance and the movie’s throwback energy, while also highlighting Jared Leto’s performance as Skeletor, specifically his “campy” voicework.
Collider’s Perri Nemiroff seemed especially surprised by how much she enjoyed the film, writing: “was totally swept away by this super vibrant, weird and gleeful romp.”
She continued: “downright ridiculous, but ridiculous works when the cast and crew wholly get the kind of movie they're making and are enthusiastic about going all out to bring it to life.” Nemiroff later added: “One of the biggest surprises of 2026,”
DiscussingFilm’s Andrew J. Salazar compared the movie directly to Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, saying: “MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE is like a sister film to the first Thor.
“Struggles to find its footing in the first half, but once it locks on its themes of fragile masculinity and ego, it makes way for an incredibly fun time that's also visually stimulating. Nicholas Galitzine is great!”
Meanwhile, Offscreen Central’s Kenzie Vanunu sounded completely won over by the fantasy adventure angle, posting: “Masters of the Universe being one of the best movies I've seen all year was not on my bingo card but here we are. Genuinely an epic good time. I love swords, I guess.”
Not every reaction was glowing, though. Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier came away much less impressed, saying the opening portion worked for him but the rest became uneven tonally.
“As for the rest? It's a mess. Serious played for laughs, laughs played for emotion, it works, it doesn't, it really tries but ends up being too awkward. Great end credits scenes though.”
Even with a few mixed reactions sprinkled in, the overall response seems far more positive than many expected heading into the premiere. Fans have been waiting decades for a live-action Masters of the Universe movie that actually embraces the colorful insanity of the source material instead of trying to water it down, and it sounds like Knight fully committed to the madness.
If these first reactions are any indication, audiences may finally be getting the wild, cosmic, sword-swinging He-Man movie they’ve wanted since the ‘80s.
Masters of the Universe hits theaters on June 5. Enjoy some other reactions below.