Masters of the Universe was one of the defining pop culture franchises of the 1980s, but its long-awaited big-budget return is shaping up to be a tough sell at the box office.
According to the latest projections, the Travis Knight-directed reboot is currently tracking for a $25–$35 million domestic opening. By comparison, Michael Tiddes' Scary Movie, the sixth film in the horror parody franchise, is tracking to debut in the $35 to $52 million range.
This revised figure is actually lower than what Deadline originally reported in mid-May. At the time, Masters of the Universe was projected to open to a minimum of $35 million at the box office.
Produced by Amazon MGM in tandem with Mattel, Masters of the Universe is a reboot of the beloved 1980s franchise, following Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) as he returns to his home planet of Eternia after fifteen years away, only to find it under the iron fist of the villainous Skeletor, played by Jared Leto. Directed by Travis Knight, the film aims to launch a new big-screen franchise built on one of the most iconic toy and cartoon properties of its era.
Unfortunately, for a blockbuster movie built on 80s nostalgia and a $170 million budget, an opening under $30 million would signal that the power of Grayskull only stretches so far. It wouldn't just be bad news for this movie, it could be a death sentence for any franchise hopes before they ever get off the ground.
Now Masters of the Universe does have some things going for it that may help boost these initial figures. Initial impressions from those who have seen the movie have have been positive. First reactions from the premiere in L.A. last month described it as "a hell of a lot of fun" and a "beautiful, bombastic fantasy/sci-fi crowd pleaser." Even those who didn't personally enjoy it, praised its ability to capture the Saturday morning cartoon vibe.
Early reactions suggest Masters of the Universe is an enjoyable summer blockbuster, and positive word of mouth could give it some staying power beyond opening weekend. But one of its big problems is its core audience being Gen X and millennials, two demographics that have been showing up to theaters less and less i recent years. Unlike Gen Z, which has demonstrated a stronger appetite for the moviegoing experience, the adults who grew up with He-Man may be more inclined to wait for streaming.
In MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, Director Travis Knight brings the legendary franchise back to the big screen in this epic live-action adventure. After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Masters of the Universe opens in theaters in the United States on June 5. Do you plan on seeing it on the big screen?