Mike
Back in 1987, an amazing success story, a billion-dollar franchise built on the back of a toy line, tried to conquer Hollywood. Instead, it crashed and burned in spectacular fashion at the box office. Not only did it fail to make money or earn critical praise, it became one of the final nails in the coffin of the infamous studio, Cannon Films. It also earned a reputation as one of the most memorably bizarre movies of the entire decade.
And yet, when it comes to nostalgia and unforgettable weirdness, it still holds all the power.
Come with us to Eternia… or, uh, a random street in California… for the wild story of what happened to Masters of the Universe.
From Toy Line to Pop Culture Empire
In 1976, toy giant Mattel passed on a $750,000 opportunity to license Star Wars action figures. Instead of kicking themselves forever, they decided to create their own franchise from scratch. They modified an existing “Big Jim” figure, bulked him up with clay, and created a plaster cast of a new hero: He-Man. The name was deliberately broad; something that could fit into any fantasy adventure they dreamed up.
By the mid-1980s, the toys, animated TV series, and comics had turned He-Man and the Masters of the Universe into a merchandising empire. Naturally, the next logical step was a movie. That’s what you do with popular things. You make a movie.
Enter Cannon Films
Who better to partner with than Cannon, the studio behind cult favorites like Silent Night, Bloody Night and American Ninja 2? Known for making wild genre films quickly and cheaply, Cannon saw Masters of the Universe as their chance to level up into blockbuster territory.
They envisioned a massive fantasy epic to rival anything coming out of Hollywood.
Then they checked the bank account.
The Budget Problem (And Moving Eternia to Earth)
Cannon hired The Dark Crystal and The Muppet Show writer David Odell to craft an adventure worthy of the toy empire. But the mythical world of Eternia proved expensive to bring to life.
The solution? Bring most of the story to Earth.
Instead of staying in Eternia, Skeletor and his crew chase He-Man through a dimensional portal to modern-day America using a device called the Cosmic Key. No fan was begging to see He-Man next to a 7-Eleven, but that glowing prop device? Every kid wanted one.
Budget constraints also meant no Battle Cat. No Orko. Apparently spray-painting a tiger green was a bridge too far.
The grand sci-fi fantasy became a fish-out-of-water story, further removed from what fans had actually paid for.
Casting He-Man: Dolph Lundgren
For director, Cannon chose Gary Goddard, a first-time feature filmmaker with a background in theme parks and live entertainment. Odd choice? Maybe. But it explains why the movie sometimes feels like a slightly unhinged Universal Studios attraction.
The bigger question: Who plays He-Man?
The answer was Dolph Lundgren, fresh off his breakout role as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. While many saw him as the imposing Russian villain, Lundgren was actually a multilingual chemical engineering graduate. He bulked up to 250 pounds and prepared to spend six months essentially wearing a metallic G-string. Despite being the title character, he had surprisingly few lines and there was even a push to dub his voice. Fortunately, his contract prevented that.
The result? Slightly awkward line delivery, but undeniable physical presence.
The Secret Weapon: Frank Langella
If there’s one universally praised performance in Masters of the Universe, it belongs to Frank Langella as Skeletor.
A respected stage and film actor, Langella embraced the role wholeheartedly, inspired by his son’s love of the character. He researched dictators and Shakespearean villains to shape his performance, and it shows.
Even buried under heavy prosthetics and a skull mask, Langella delivers the movie’s most committed and theatrical performance. For many fans, he is the film.
The Supporting Cast
The cast was stacked with future and familiar faces:
- Meg Foster as Evil-Lyn
- Courteney Cox in one of her earliest roles
- Robert Duncan McNeill as Kevin
- Billy Barty as Gwildor
- James Tolkan as Detective Lubic
Behind the scenes, production design came from William Stout, while early concept art involved legendary Star Wars artist Ralph McQuarrie. Visual effects were handled by Boss Film Studios.
The score was composed by Bill Conti, known for his work on Rocky and The Karate Kid. The music was epic. The movie… less so.
Production Troubles
With a budget between $17–22 million (high for Cannon) the studio kept a tight grip on production. Mattel also stayed heavily involved, nervous about protecting their toy brand. According to producers, delays plagued the film for years. Toy sales declined. Momentum faded. Cannon allegedly shut down production before completion, forcing Goddard to finish parts of the film with a skeleton crew.
Even the ending was reportedly shortened after test screenings. It was messy.
Box Office Disaster
Released in August 1987, Masters of the Universe opened in third place and ultimately grossed just over $17 million, barely matching its budget. Combined with the failure of Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, the film contributed to Cannon’s financial collapse.
Critics were harsh, calling it a confused mash-up of Conan the Barbarian and Star Wars. The biggest praise? Frank Langella.
The Cancelled Sequel
Despite the disappointment, a sequel was announced at Cannes in 1987. Lundgren declined to return. A low-budget follow-up was planned under director Albert Pyun, but Cannon ultimately scrapped it rather than pay Mattel’s licensing fee.
The unused costumes and sets? They were recycled into Cyborg, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Because of course they were.
Legacy and Nostalgia
Yes, Masters of the Universe was a massive swing and miss as an adaptation. But it remains a staple of late ’80s and early ’90s childhoods. There’s something uniquely charming about its handmade fantasy aesthetic, its earnest weirdness, and its refusal to make sense in the most spectacular ways.
For better or worse, it’s one of one.
And with a new Masters of the Universe film slated for 2026, the franchise lives on.
A couple of previous episodes of this show can be seen below. For more, check out the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel—and don’t forget to subscribe!
