Hollywood's embrace of 80s nostalgia continues with the release of the long-awaited, semi-live-action remake of Masters of the Universe, a well-known property among older millennials and younger Gen Xers. This new iteration, set to play in theaters and later on Prime Video, aims to capitalize on the enduring appeal of the original cartoon and comic book series, which itself was inspired by a line of action figures featuring the iconic He-Man. Despite its recognition, the live-action realm has been an elusive goal for Masters of the Universe, with a previous attempt in 1987 by Cannon Films resulting in a box office flop. The original movie, starring Dolph Lundgren as Prince Adam/He-Man, failed to generate revenue, making less than the animated The Care Bears Movie from 1985. However, the new film is expected to outperform its predecessor, adjusted for inflation, despite being decades removed from He-Man's commercial peak.
The 1987 version, produced by Cannon Films, was a Hail Mary attempt to boost toy sales and video rentals, and it shared similarities with other fantasy movies of the decade, such as the Star Wars franchise. However, it was released during a time when action/cop movies dominated the box office, and the fantasy genre was not particularly popular. The new movie, while set in contemporary times, embraces its 80s roots with a soundtrack filled with period hits, a brighter color scheme, and a nostalgic aesthetic. It also incorporates a teenage couple plot, which, despite taking up a significant portion of the screen time, fails to effectively intertwine with the He-Man story, leaving Lundgren seemingly checked out.
The author, Jesse Hassenger, reflects on the contrast between the 1987 and 2026 versions of the movie. He argues that the 1987 film, despite its flaws, had a certain charm and authenticity to it, as it was a crass commercial space-filler made to boost toy sales. In contrast, the new movie is expected to be taken more seriously, with a focus on its 'heart' and coherence. However, Hassenger questions whether audiences have actually become more sophisticated or if they are demanding less at a greater expense. He suggests that the new movie, while more coherent and visually appealing, is puffed up with knowing fandom, and may not live up to the expectations set by its 80s counterpart.
