This summer, Masters of the Universe arrived in cinemas. The big budget movie, based on a classic and iconic IP from the ’80s, had all the hallmarks for a huge hit.
However, despite a positive reaction from a section of the fanbase, the movie didn’t do the numbers at the box office. For reasons which will be debated endlessly for years, Masters of the Universe just didn’t pull in the crowds.
It’s a shame, because once Masters of the Universe landed on streaming, it quickly became the No.1 movie on Prime Video, worldwide! Many people who didn’t go to see the movie on the big screen came out in full force and had a great time with the picture on the small screen.
Of course, this was lovely to see, and it’s fantastic that so many people have now watched Masters of the Universe, but skipping the theatrical release of a big budget movie is problematic. Movies are produced to make money, and if they don’t make the cash when the opportunity is presented, it puts their future in doubt.
If big films flop, they don’t automatically get sequels. And at some point further down the line, a lack of sequels, or a reduced presence in general, can mean these IPs dwindle or possibly fade away.
Which brings me onto something I feel is important to say: Don’t presume every iconic property is here forever. If you like something and you want it to thrive, support it, or you risk losing it. And that risk is real.
A great number of IPs are still in the public eye because the people who grew up with them remain nostalgic for their heroes of yesteryear. However, fanbases age, nostalgia moves in cycles, and movie and TV execs are only interested in pushing IPs which are likely to bring in money.
The reason we got a Masters of the Universe movie is because studios and various movie producers believe there is potential money in the property. The reason we don’t have a Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors movie, a Centurions film, or a Galaxy Rangers TV show is because the same studios and execs don’t believe these ’80s properties can bring in the dosh.
There was a time, a couple of decades a go, when pushing some of the more obscure ’80s properties would have been less of a risk. Back during the ’00s, when all the ’80s kids were in their early 20s and had more disposable income, the possibilty of these type of films coming to life was more likely.
But we’ve all gotten older and the sad truth is, there will come a time when studios and producers move on from the ’80s nostalgia cycle completely. They moved on from the ’60s cycle, and then the ’70s cycle, so it really is just a matter of time.
In 2004 we got a Starsky & Hutch movie, while in 2008 we got a Get Smart film. No one is interested in making another Starsky & Hutch movie or a second Get Smart film in 2026.
Now, it’s true, some classic IPs are still going strong, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and Star Wars, but that is because they have managed to reinvent themselves in ways which continue to appeal to new generations. Properties which have done this will continue to have staying power, but not all properties have pulled it off.
Just think about some of the older pop stars for a moment, who are still relevant today. Cher, Dolly Parton, and Madonna are all still around because they have managed to appeal to new generations, which in turn has brought in new fans.
But many of the pop stars from yesteryear are only remembered by the people who grew up with their music. There are countless pop acts from the ’70s and ’80s who are either forgotten, or who only now appeal to an ever decreasing fanbase.
The point that I am making is that because we are surrounded by so many IPs, we all risk the likelihood of becoming blasé. We just presume they are indestructible and will always be there. But this isn’t a given.
The generation who are in school today, have their own IPs to get excited for, and will become nostalgic for these when they get older. They won’t give a damn about the stuff you or I hold dear from our childhoods, and once the interest levels drop, you won’t see films, TV shows, comics, or toys about the characters we have a fondness for.
The movie studios, producers, TV execs, and general money folk will soon start turning their attention to that generation instead of ours. So, if we want to see our favourite properties continue to exist, we have got to show up!
If you were a big fan of something back in the day, and Hollywood makes a movie of it, try and see it if you can. Likewise, if you want more Voltron toys or comics based on the ThunderCats, then you need to invest in them and if they are overlooked gems, make sure to spread the word.
Use it, or lose it.
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