By the Power of Grayskull, He-Man Is Finally Back
There are films you watch as a reviewer, and there are films you watch as a fan. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is firmly in the second category for me. I have been waiting for this one for a long time. Not just as someone who follows the franchise, but as someone who grew up refusing to eat dinner until He-Man came on TV.
That kid showed up in the cinema. And he was not disappointed.
A Simple Story, Done Right
The plot does not try to reinvent anything, and that is entirely the right call. Adam has left Eternia and is living on Earth. He has to come back, pick up the sword, say the words, and take on Skeletor. That is the whole thing. Because of this simplicity, the film has space to breathe. It builds the world, gives its characters room, and leans into everything that made the original cartoon work.
And when “By the Power of Grayskull” lands for the first time on the big screen, in IMAX, at full volume, I am not embarrassed to say I had tears in my eyes. That line does something to you. It always has.
A Cast That Almost Gets It Perfect
Nicholas Galitzine is a very good He-Man. He has the physicality, the presence, and the earnestness the role demands. My only gripe is the voice. The baritone of the original cartoon was something special, and that is not a knock on Galitzine. It is just the weight of nostalgia. He carries the role well regardless.
Camila Mendes as Teela is a genuine surprise. She plays the part with conviction, and the character works. Jared Leto as Skeletor is also very good. The laugh, specifically, is very close to the one I had in my head from years of watching the cartoon. I want more of him in the sequel.
That said, the standout performance of this entire film belongs to Idris Elba as Duncan, Man-at-Arms. I did not expect that. In the cartoon, Duncan was always there: reliable, slightly in the background. Elba makes him matter. His arc carries genuine emotional weight, and because of his performance, the film has a second anchor beyond Adam. It is an earnest, grounded turn in a film full of colour and chaos, and it makes everything around it feel more real.
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What I Wish They Had Done Differently
The film is not without its problems. The Earth-set sequences run too long. That time could have gone toward richer world-building in Eternia: more detail, more texture, more of the iconic musical themes from the original. That score is a massive part of what made He-Man feel like He-Man, and this film underuses it.
Additionally, a few characters feel slightly thin. Given what Elba does with Man-at-Arms, you can see what a little extra investment does for the film. A few more of those moments would have elevated this from a good blockbuster to a great one.
Absurdity Is a Feature, Not a Bug
One of the things I genuinely loved about this film is that it never takes itself too seriously. It knows what it is: a live-action version of a cartoon based on a toy. Characters named Trap Jaw and Ram Man are going to sound ridiculous out of context. The film handles that with self-awareness that keeps things fun without tipping into parody.
That tone is difficult to get right. This one gets it right.
Should You Watch It?
If you grew up on He-Man, the cartoon, the action figures, the VHS tapes, yes. Go. Watch it in the biggest screen you can find. You will not regret it.
If you are coming to this completely fresh, it still works. The action is solid, the world is interesting, and the characters are likeable. It is a proper summer blockbuster that moves quickly and delivers exactly what it promises.
You will not notice two hours pass. And you will walk out smiling. That is genuinely all a film like this needs to do.
If you want to go deeper into the He-Man universe, I also reviewed the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Omnibus, which is a great companion read whether you’re a longtime fan or just got hooked after watching this film.
For more reviews of big-screen blockbusters and hidden gems worth your time, check out the FilmyFool reviews of Obsession and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy (Rewind), two very different films that both deserve your attention.
