The live-action movie Masters of the Universe has suffered a major box office failure, according to a review by Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta. The feature film has already transitioned to streaming platforms after earning approximately $114 million worldwide against a reported production budget of around $200 million.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta published its critique of the high-budget fantasy reboot on August 22, 2026, awarding the film a score of 1.5 out of 5 stars. The publication reported that one of the initial lines in the movie is delivered by a talking green tiger named Cringer. According to the reviewer, the furry creature's nickname, which resembles a famous carpet, accurately sets the tone for the entire production right from the start.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta is a daily Russian state-owned newspaper headquartered in Moscow that serves as an official journal of record while covering national affairs, culture, and entertainment reviews.
In tracing the background of the property, the reviewer noted that the He-Man brand originated from toy shelves in the same manner as much of pop culture from the second half of the twentieth century. American toy company Mattel, known primarily for creating the Barbie doll line, launched the original He-Man action figure line in 1982.
Comics and an animated television series quickly expanded around the toy line, transforming the plastic figures with disproportionately massive biceps into a full media franchise. In 1987, the property received its first full-length live-action feature film adaptation starring Swedish actor and martial artist Dolph Lundgren as He-Man.
Although the 1987 movie did not achieve massive box office success, Rossiyskaya Gazeta highlighted that it remained a memorable artifact of its era. The reviewer described the original film using retro internet slang as an epic win, arguing that its 1980s charm holds up far better than the modern revival attempt.
Direction and Storyline Setup
Nearly four decades after the original movie release, filmmakers attempted to tell the story once again. The directorial role was given to Travis Knight, an American animator and director who previously directed the 2018 Transformers spin-off film Bumblebee.
The review described the film premise as a fairytale setup. In the story, a magical kingdom named Eternia exists in a distant realm, housing the powerful Sword of Power until a villain with a bare skull for a face threatens the land. Prince Adam is subsequently forced to evacuate to Earth, landing in a deliberately bleak and dreary setting in the state of Oklahoma.
On paper, the narrative presents a straightforward heroic fairytale. However, the review argued that the story should have remained a simple fantasy rather than attempting a complicated genre overhaul.
Tonal Identity and Narrative Confusion
Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that from the opening frames, the reboot fails to establish what type of movie it wants to be. The narrative constantly shifts between a grotesque parody reminiscent of the comedy film Scary Movie and a serious fantasy drama where characters die dramatically in one another's arms with straight faces.
The reviewer observed that toggling between these two extremes damages the storytelling, overall tone, and structural integrity of the film. The grotesque comedic scenes are not wild enough to make the film a full comedy, while the dramatic scenes lack proper setup to be taken seriously by the audience.
As a result of these conflicting choices, the publication stated that the film settles into an awkward middle ground rather than committing to deliberate camp humor or a coherent fantasy adventure.
Cast Performances and Character Portrayals
British actor Idris Elba appears in the film as General Duncan. Rossiyskaya Gazeta pointed out that Elba is experienced with fantasy armor and world-saving roles, having played Heimdall for many years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Bloodsport in DC's The Suicide Squad.
However, while those superhero franchises provided clearly written roles, the reviewer stated that General Duncan resembles a cheerful Labrador retriever fitted with a helmet and a weapon for most of his screen time. The review added that although Elba attempts to bring necessary charisma to the screen, the script gives him virtually nothing to act.
American actor Jared Leto initiated his involvement in the film by reaching out to the production team himself, as Skeletor was one of his favorite childhood characters. Leto performed on set inside a prosthetic muscle suit created by Barry Gower, the Emmy-winning prosthetics designer responsible for creating Vecna in Stranger Things and the Night King in Game of Thrones.
During filming, Leto performed with an uncovered face and smeared fake blood makeup across his face before takes to give co-stars something to react to. However, Rossiyskaya Gazeta revealed that post-production visual effects completely erased Leto's physical face, replacing it with a cartoon skull featuring basic facial expressions. Furthermore, his voice was buried under heavy sound processing that stripped away human timbre and intonation, leading the reviewer to comment that an artificial intelligence voice generator could have achieved the same result without anyone noticing.
The central romantic duo features actor Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam and actress Camila Mendes as Teela. The review acknowledged that both actors look natural in a fantasy setting, but criticized the script for reducing them to functional video game characters operating on a prompt-based structure.
According to the critique, the lead characters move, argue, and unite before plot obstacles solely because the script requires action to keep the movie going. The review reported that neither character displays clear internal motivation or screen chemistry.
Visual Effects and Costume Quality
Regarding physical production design, Rossiyskaya Gazeta described Eternia as a kingdom made of rubber. The movie features latex masks, glued facial appliances, synthetic muscles, and heavy costumes that look dragged around by the cast rather than worn naturally.
The reviewer wrote that watching the film feels like visiting a small neighborhood cosplay show in a rented community center where the top prize is a comic shop gift card and costumes are made from expanding foam and spray paint. The review contrasted this appearance with the film's multi-million dollar budget, compared to local fans working with three thousand rubles and two weeks of spare evenings.
The publication noted that the issue does not stem from makeup artists, whose work looked impressive in behind-the-scenes set photographs. Instead, the problem lies in the flat, bright lighting and close-up camera angles that highlight every flaw in the rubber materials.
In contrast, the review expressed fewer complaints about the computer-generated imagery. While green screen technology is heavily utilized and clearly visible throughout, the reviewer acknowledged that almost all modern blockbusters operate this way, except for one specific director who remains devoted to the historical works of Homer.
Musical Score and Final Verdict
The reviewer delivered sharp criticism regarding the musical score, stating that creating such a poor soundtrack required significant effort. The film features only one musical theme repeated in slight variations from start to end credits, rather than licensing heavy metal tracks that would have suited both the atmosphere and the franchise's 1980s origins.
Rossiyskaya Gazeta concluded that the film squandered a rare opportunity to maximize chaotic fantasy elements involving muscular barbarians, space technology, magic swords, talking tigers, and skull-faced villains. The filmmakers could have crafted a nostalgic 1980s tribute, a self-aware comedy, or a standard modern fairytale, but failed to commit to any path.
Despite earnest efforts from individual actors and baseline computer graphics, the reviewer found the overall structure too contradictory for viewers to enjoy. Rossiyskaya Gazeta gave Masters of the Universe a rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars and strongly advised audiences not to watch the film, recommending instead that fans rewatch Dolph Lundgren's 1987 original for genuine 1980s nostalgia.
