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The new Masters of the Universe movie is set to hit the big screen this Friday, but the box office projections don't look too promising.
According to Global Box Office, Masters of the Universe is on track to earn between $27-$35 million in the US across its opening weekend. That would be considered a bit of a flop, as Forbes reports that the Amazon MGM Studios movie cost at least $170 million to make.
Based on the beloved fantasy franchise and Mattel's He-Man toyline, Masters of the Universe follows Prince Adam, played by Mary and George star Nicholas Galitzine, who has been living in the real world. However, when he finds the Sword of Power, he is pulled back into Eternia, where he joins forces with Teela (Camilla Mendes), Man-at-Arms (Idris Elba), and more to embrace his destiny as He-Man and take on Skeletor (Jared Leto).
The franchise has spawned multiple successful animated TV shows, but the new movie is only the second live-action adaptation since the 1987 feature. However, the '80s Masters of the Universe movie didn't fare well at the box office either. Starring The Expandables star Dolph Lundgren as He-Man, the film failed to make back its budget, grossing just $17.3 million against an estimated production cost of $22 million.
Masters of the Universe has a lot riding on it, as the last Mattel Toys adaptation to hit the big screen, Barbie, grossed over $1.4 billion globally (Box Office Mojo). Alongside Masters of the Universe, Mattel has many adaptations in the works, including Matchbox: The Movie, a Barney adaptation, and a movie about Polly Pocket dolls.
It's not all doom and gloom for Masters of the Universe, though. Following early screening in May, the movie earned positive reactions, with critics calling it "one of the biggest surprises of 2026," comparing it to the likes of Marvel's Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy. It's also fair to say that the box office is a little unpredictable at this moment in time, with original horror movies Obsession and Backrooms smashing expectations and beating The Mandalorian and Grogu on the charts. Perhaps Masters of the Universe can do the same.
Masters of the Universe releases on June 5. While we wait, check out our guide to the most exciting upcoming movies heading our way.
