MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

Masters of the Universe (2026)

Directed by: Travis Knight

Both the fantasy universe and real-life setting suffer from weak world-building. Neither is immersive, lacking any sense of life, depth, and creativity. The places feel empty and hollow.

While the villain stays committed, the movie fails to convey a genuine sense of danger to the universe that they are trying to protect. Too much talking and dilly-dallying before taking any action.

You can’t take them seriously as they are being silly most of the time. They like to joke around every once in a while, but most of the jokes don’t quite land. They tend to drag them out even when they’re overly corny, and the resolution is way too cheesy.

He-Man’s muscular physique doesn’t make him look stronger. His clumsy movements are more noticeable. The lackluster choreography and the uninspiring camera angles rob the action sequences of their impact.

Repeated zoom-ins on the weapons do little to enhance their appeal. The sword is downgraded to a heavy prop that is rarely put to meaningful use in battle. The musical score feels shy and restrained, rarely amplifying the movie’s key transformative moments.

Battle Cat looks like a worn-out toy that skips every laundry day. Other characters have potential, but they are reduced to just one or two battle scenes. Aside from mocking their names, there’s no effort to establish who they really are.

Too little time is spent developing the family and friendship ties, causing some of its highlights to feel unearned.

The consistent dry humor, poor characterization, and boring adventure prevent the movie from excelling in any area — turning it into a master of none.

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄

Cast: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, James Purefoy, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Kristen Wiig

Screenplay by: Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee, David Callaham; based on the Masters of the Universe franchise by Mattel

Presented by: Amazon MGM Studios, Mattel Studios, Escape Artists

Release Date: June 3, 2026 in Philippine cinemas nationwide

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews