For fans who grew up in the ’80s dreaming of Castle Grayskull, power swords, and Saturday morning adventures in Eternia, Masters of the Universe delivers the kind of big-screen adaptation many have been waiting decades to see.

Director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to theaters in an ambitious live-action adventure that largely understands what made the original property so beloved. The film takes a fresh approach to Adam’s origin story, introducing the future Prince of Eternia as a vulnerable child forced to flee his home after an attack by Skeletor (Jared Leto). In an effort to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull—and the all-important Power Sword—Adam is sent to Earth, where he grows up disconnected from his true identity, insecure, and constantly searching for the weapon he lost the day he arrived.

Not every part of that setup works. The Earth-based scenes are easily the weakest part of the film, portraying Adam as an overly immature anti-hero whose storyline feels exaggerated and, at times, disconnected from the epic fantasy tone the rest of the movie embraces. Even the depiction of humanity comes across as cartoonishly silly, making those early moments harder to fully invest in.

Thankfully, once the Sword of Power leads Adam back to Eternia after 15 years apart, the film finds its footing in a major way. From there, Masters of the Universe becomes the adventure fans came to see. Adam discovers his home shattered under Skeletor’s fiendish rule, with his parents held captive and Eternia in desperate need of a hero. To save both his family and his world, Adam must join forces with Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), embracing the destiny that transforms him into He-Man.

Watching that first transformation is genuinely thrilling—a crowd-pleasing moment that taps into the same triumphant energy audiences love in superhero origin stories like Spider-Man and Captain America. Interestingly, the film doesn’t heavily lean into the “He-Man” name itself, choosing instead to focus more on Adam’s emotional evolution into the hero Eternia needs.

The film blends action, humor, fantasy mythology, and character-building in a way that often feels like an expanded live-action version of the beloved animated series—and that works in its favor.

For longtime fans, the nostalgia hits hard. Seeing the Sorceress, even in a smaller role, is a standout moment, especially her transformation into the iconic eagle form pulled straight from the original cartoon. Cringer’s appearance is another undeniable crowd-pleaser that will have longtime fans smiling. The one notable absence? Orko, whose missing presence definitely feels like an intentional setup for future adventures.

Nicholas Galitzine absolutely delivers as Adam, bringing charisma, vulnerability, and the physical presence needed to make his transformation from uncertain young man to heroic warrior feel believable. But if there’s an MVP here, it may be Camila Mendes as Teela. Mendes gives the film much of its emotional momentum, bringing confidence, intensity, and commanding screen presence that makes Teela feel every bit as essential to the story as Adam himself.

Idris Elba, meanwhile, brings gravitas and heart to Duncan/Man-At-Arms, balancing the character’s warrior strength with a deeply paternal warmth that adds emotional weight to the adventure. His presence helps ground the larger fantasy elements, giving the film emotional authenticity amid all the action and spectacle.

While Masters of the Universe isn’t flawless, it absolutely succeeds where it matters most: making audiences care about this world again. It feels grand, nostalgic, fun, and unapologetically faithful to the spirit of the original while still modernizing the material for a new generation. More importantly, it leaves the door wide open for future adventures—and after this, that’s something fans will absolutely want.

This new Masters of the Universe surpasses the failed 1987 adaptation by a wide margin and proves that Eternia finally belongs on the big screen.

Masters of the Universe opens only in theaters June 5.