2026 is an incredible time to be a He-Man fan, as it marks the first time we've seen a Masters of the Universe movie on the silver screen in almost 40 years. The previous movie, also called Masters of the Universe, was released in 1987 and starred Dolph Lundgren as the muscular hero of Eternia.
While even the most ardent fans would agree that the 1987 movie wasn't the greatest, it does retain a unique 80s charm. Masters of the Universe took a long hiatus from theaters, but the franchise remained strong with numerous series and toy lines. The source material certainly has a legacy audience, with characters like He-Man and Skeletor becoming household names. It's strange, then, that the 2026 movie has arguably underperformed at the box office.
Overall, critical reception was mixed, but we thoroughly enjoyed Masters of the Universe when it was released earlier in June. Reviews don't always align with box-office success. Still, a quick browse of social media reveals that many audiences thoroughly enjoyed their time alongside Adam and Teela in Eternia. It begs the question, what prevented audiences from visiting the theater for Masters of the Universe in the first place?
Masters of the Universe's box-office performance is likely due to multiple factors. While even analysts won't know the precise cause, here are several factors that may have contributed to the meager cinema showing. Fortunately for fans, it's too early to rule out a return to Eternia in the future just yet.
The first half of 2026 has been jam-packed with new releases across multiple genres. We've had everything from sci-fi epics with Project Hail Mary to phenomenally successful video game adaptations with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
The May and June release windows are no exception and are proving to be exceptional months, particularly for horror releases. Audiences adored Obsession and Backrooms, and Stephen Spielberg's hotly anticipated Disclosure Day was released on June 12. Scary Movie also marked the return of the dormant horror parody franchise after more than 10 years.
Casual movie-goers do not visit the theater for every single new release. Audiences were spoiled for choice around the launch of Masters of the Universe, which likely didn't help the movie's performance. Fans of the TV show may have shown up, but it was arguably a less appealing proposition than the other summer blockbusters.
Ultimately, Masters of the Universe wasn't just competing with June releases. It was also in competition with May's heavy hitters, like The Mandalorian and Grogu.
Potential audiences unsure about watching Masters of the Universe in theaters may have waited for reviews before deciding to part with their hard-earned cash. Looking at audience ratings, most moviegoers enjoyed the film, but it proved particularly divisive among critics.
Several outlets rated the 2026 film quite highly, while others blasted it, resulting in a much lower overall score. In comparison, Backrooms and Obsession performed well in both critic and user reviews. Critics were not kind to Scary Movie, though the franchise has multigenerational appeal and a large legacy fanbase, as does anything in the Star Wars universe.
If potential viewers are unfamiliar with He-Man and have missed the trailers, the brand may not have been strong enough to entice them. Audiences who did watch the film often speak highly of it, but word of mouth alone isn't always enough, especially in such a competitive release window.
One aspect of a film's success that's largely out of the audience's control is how extraordinarily expensive movies are to make. It's not a new phenomenon, and modern blockbusters frequently cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Early estimates for Masters of the Universe suggest the Amazon MGM movie could have cost a staggering $170 million. That number isn't exact, but it highlights the uphill struggle modern movies face just to break even. A production needs to greatly exceed that to be considered a box office success.
At the time of writing, Masters of the Universe has reportedly taken $87.3 million. That's certainly a lot of money, but it's barely more than half the estimated budget. Movies aren't created equally, and each project faces its own challenges and budget constraints. However, we can compare Project Hail Mary's performance, as it was released in March and is another Amazon MGM movie. That project reportedly had a $200 million budget but generated worldwide revenue of $680 million.
Studios only get one chance to entice audiences with trailers, and it's tough to leave such a strong impression that those viewers will visit the theater. Masters of the Universe had the unenviable task of appealing to two very different crowds.
Fans of the show expect the source material to be treated with respect. Newcomers don't have that same attachment, but still need to be wowed and convinced that the movie is worth their time.
The trailer certainly wasn't hated, but it may not have had enough impact to satisfy moviegoers unfamiliar with the TV show. Some audiences found the trailer generic, while others were left confused about the movie's tone. That last part is particularly crucial for a movie based on Masters of the Universe, as the TV show's tone is part of what makes it so unique and beloved.
This point may only explain why a small audience has not watched the title, but it's a contributing factor nonetheless. Masters of the Universe is an Amazon-MGM movie, which does come with some expectations.
One of those is that Masters of the Universe will likely end up on Amazon Prime Video in the near future. If a movie is destined for a streaming platform, it arguably reduces the urgency to watch it right away. This is particularly significant considering the busy release schedule we covered earlier.
Many audiences prefer watching movies from the comfort of their own home. If those viewers expect to watch Masters of the Universe through a subscription service they already pay for, they may just be happy to wait. Even when other anticipated titles leave the silver screen, you usually need to pay a separate fee to watch them at home.
A lower take at the box office can be a serious concern for any budding franchise. However, Masters of the Universe finds itself in a unique position, and a sequel may not be off the table just yet.
For starters, Travis Knight, the director, has already expressed his keenness to work on a Masters of the Universe 2. Knight revealed what he would like to explore in a future movie, though he also noted audiences had the final say. Speaking about new stories in Eternia, Knight said, "If the world doesn't want them, we won't tell them."
Per Variety, Kevin Wilson, the head of theatrical distribution at Amazon MGM, reportedly claimed, "This opening is exactly the kind of critical first moment that validates our holistic distribution strategy." He also noted the importance of engagement long after the movie's run in theaters.
If Amazon MGM is looking toward the future, Masters of the Universe could be another high-profile movie to bolster their Amazon Prime Video service. Engagement with the streaming platform likely matters a great deal to Amazon and may be instrumental in green lighting another movie. While the 2026 title tells a great standalone He-Man story, it certainly hints at the possibility of a sequel. Time will tell whether audiences get to revisit Eternia soon or if we face another four-decade wait.
