Why Masters of the Universe still matters decades later

The year is 2026, the summer is completely stacked with huge, recognisable IPs, from Supergirl and Spider-Man to Star Wars and Scary Movie, and audiences are notoriously choosy with how they spend their hard earned money. So, with so much on offer, and competition extremely stiff, what is the likelihood that fantasy romp, Masters of the Universe will succeed at the box-office?

Well, the likelihood is fairly high actually. Not only does the movie promise plenty of sword-wielding entertainment, which audiences are partial to, but after all these years Masters of the Universe is still a big deal.

Oh, sure, audiences haven’t seen a Masters of the Universe movie since the poorly received Dolph Lundgren flick back in ‘87, but the core thrust of Masters is still going strong. He-Man, Skeletor, and even Orko are still knocking around decades after they made their debut, which is more than can be said for many of their peers.

He-Man appears on T-shirts, on greetings cards, on TV commercials, on toy shelves, and even on Netflix. He may not command the same attention as he did during the early ‘80s, but he remains an icon.

Let’s not forget, he’s the most powerful man in the universe. This kind of thing doesn’t just fade away you know.

So, with this in mind, here’s why Masters of the Universe still matters all these years on.

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Brand recognition 

As noted above, He-Man, Skeletor, and various characters from Masters of the Universe are still around. They’ve gone the distance because they have massive brand recognition.

Back during the 1980s, toy manufacturer, Mattel put a lot of time and effort (and money) into making Masters of the Universe the No. 1 toy. They did so by creating imaginative characters; by partnering with key collaborators to put He-Man in comics and on television; and by believing in the heroes and villains they were selling.

The result? Huge, huge, HUGE sales, as well as an equally huge fan base, and a lasting legacy.

And sure, He-Man’s popularity dipped over the years (same as everything else), but Mattel kept on pushing the character ever onward. New cartoons appeared in the ‘90s, ‘00s, and 2020’s; comic book adventures have been fairly regular; and the toys have never really gone away.

Perhaps most important of all, those of us who grew up on Masters of the Universe still have a huge nostalgic love for this brand. We remember what it felt like to sit and watch the original cartoon; we recall the Christmas and birthdays when we received Castle Grayskull; and we look back fondly on the time we pretended we were He-Man or She-Ra, battling to protect Eternia or Etheria from the forces of darkness.

Similar to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and Ghostbusters, Masters of the Universe is still huge. The fans remain loyal and passionate, and the brand is bankable.

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World building 

We all love a spot of world building, don’t we? Whether it’s Game of Thrones, Star Trek, or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the idea of a world being constructed in front of our eyes is something which has significant appeal.

And world building is never more appealing than when it operates within the realms of fantasy and sci-fi – something which Masters of the Universe excels in. There is a wealth of sci-fi lore and fantasy mythology in Masters of the Universe, and it’s ready and waiting for audiences to dive in.

And it comes from so many different places – The cartoons, the comics, the toys, and so much more! The world building is potentially endless.

Audiences are very receptive to this kind of thing right now, especially as we all lock our sights on movies and shows we love and want to learn more about. We no longer want just surface level stuff, we want a deep dive into everything, and Masters of the Universe has lots to give.

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Sci-fi spectacle 

Speaking of the combination of fantasy and sci-fi, Masters of the Universe has it in spades when it comes to visuals. From heroic warriors to evil hordes, there are some weird and wonderful characters in Masters of the Universe, and plenty of expansive landscapes too.

From Mekaneck to King Hiss, and from The Crystal Castle to Snake Mountain, there is lots to look at. And once again, this sort of thing is very appealing to audiences right now.

Think Dune or Guardians of the Galaxy, and Masters of the Universe has the exact same appeal. It’s epic fantasy and we all love it!

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Good vs evil

Strip back the action, hold back the fantasy, and at its core Masters of the Universe is a story about good versus evil. It’s not just He-Man against Skeletor, it’s right against wrong.

This is an enduring, universal theme which has carried through Masters of the Universe ever since its inception and it’s something we love to see. It’s one of the reasons we all go mad for Marvel movies, because we want to see the hero triumph over the villain, and we are guaranteed this with Masters of the Universe.

Even if Man-At-Arms or the Sorceress experience a setback, we know it’ll be temporary. The whole ethos of Masters is about having the power to keep going and win the day.

We need this kind of mentality and positivity. Now more so than ever.

We also need the colourful energy which makes the property so damn iconic. It’s what Masters of the Universe has always excelled in.

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If you see Masters of the Universe as just an another thing from the ‘80s, maybe even a relic, you aren’t seeing the bigger picture. This is a recognisable name which made a colossal impact back in its heyday, and has never really gone away.

The fans who have kept the flames of the franchise burning bright for decades are more than aware of its power, as well as the storytelling potential on offer. Forget Westeros, Eternia is where it’s at.

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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this post about Masters of the Universe. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.