A new Masters of the Universe movie is planned for 2026, continuing a story that began in 1982 with Mattel’s popular 5.5-inch action figures. The line featured the hero He-Man (secretly Prince Adam) along with his friends and foes, most notably the villain Skeletor. Like other successful brands such as Transformers and G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe expanded into a cartoon series, primarily to boost toy sales and grow the franchise. This new film will be the ninth installment, adding to the existing movies, TV shows, and spin-offs.
Like many popular franchises based on toys, the quality of Masters of the Universe movies and cartoons varied quite a bit. Some were fantastic, while others weren’t very good. Here’s a ranking of everything in the franchise, leading up to the new movie coming out in 2026.
8) Masters of the Universe (1987)
Five years after the He-Man toys first came out, and four years after the initial cartoon series, The Cannon Group made a He-Man movie. Dolph Lundgren seemed like a great choice to play Prince Adam, who transforms into the hero He-Man. But like many 80s action fans remember, while Lundgren excelled in fight scenes—aside from Rocky IV—his acting wasn’t always convincing outside of action roles.
The movie is interesting mostly because of the casting – the usually sophisticated Frank Langella as Skeletor was an unusual choice. The story centers on two teenagers who encounter He-Man when he comes to Earth to prevent Skeletor from obtaining a powerful cosmic key. However, moving the action to Earth and focusing on these two kids didn’t work well. While the movie is undeniably cheesy, it wasn’t even bad enough to become a beloved cult favorite.
7) The New Adventures of He-Man (1990-1991)
The original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoons were a hit and boosted sales of the related toys. But in 1990, when Mattel launched a new toy line, it led to The New Adventures of He-Man cartoon, which wasn’t well-received. It was so unpopular, in fact, that it brought the entire He-Man cartoon series to an end for ten years.
Similar to the Dolph Lundgren film, this cartoon moves He-Man off of Eternia and places him on the futuristic planet Primus, where he must protect it from evil mutants. Surprisingly, Skeletor shows up and joins forces with them! The animation style changed dramatically, and the cartoon abandoned the feel of the original series. This effectively ended the He-Man franchise for ten years, and it also marked the end of the existing storyline; the next cartoon series completely restarted everything from scratch.
6) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002-2004)
The 2002 reboot of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe faced a tough challenge. The previous cartoon series had failed to capture the magic of the original, and the franchise as a whole—even the toys—was struggling. This new series aimed to completely restart the brand and rebuild its popularity from the ground up.
What this cartoon did best was return to the roots of the original series and recapture what made it so fun to watch. It successfully fleshed out the backstories of several characters, enriching the overall story and making the supporting characters – and their associated toys – more appealing. After two seasons and 39 episodes, the show also sparked a new comic book series and breathed new life into the He-Man franchise.
5) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2021-2022)
Netflix surprisingly released two separate He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoons in 2021. The first one, and unfortunately the weaker of the two, was a remake of the original series, but with a confusing twist: it presented Prince Adam as having lost his memory and separated from his father, King Randor. Once he discovers the Power Sword, he transforms into He-Man and must battle his uncle, who is now Skeletor.
This cartoon ran for three seasons with 26 episodes and earned generally good reviews, though it didn’t quite reach the heights of later shows on Netflix. It was a clever series with well-written dialogue and impressive animation, and the choice to portray a younger He-Man was a unique one. Ultimately, it’s a very enjoyable release, especially for younger viewers.
4) She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985)
Kids enjoyed He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, but many felt its spin-off, She-Ra: Princess of Power, was even better. Created to appeal to young girls and sell toys, She-Ra featured Princess Adora, the twin sister of He-Man’s Prince Adam, who led a group of rebels fighting for freedom on the planet Etheria.
The show lasted two seasons and 93 episodes, quickly becoming much more than just a female version of He-Man. While He-Man focused on sword fights and defending a planet, She-Ra centered on magic and fighting against an oppressive force. Although He-Man is perhaps more well-remembered today due to nostalgia, She-Ra significantly improved the source material, making it more than just a show based on toys.
3) Masters of the Universe: Revelation & Revolution (2021-2024)
I have to say, of the two new cartoons Netflix put out in 2021, Masters of the Universe: Revelation is definitely the stronger one. It caused a bit of a stir when it first came out, which wasn’t unexpected with Kevin Smith at the helm! But you could really tell he cared about the original 80s cartoon and toys. He clearly wanted to honor what came before while also making it fresh and exciting for today’s viewers. It felt like a really respectful update.
The show initially released its first ten episodes in 2021, split into two parts. A second series, Masters of the Universe: Revolution, followed in 2024, picking up where the story left off. Featuring a talented voice cast including Mark Hamill, William Shatner, Keith Daif, and Melissa Benoist, the show has been well-received. Despite a unique take on the story by Kevin Smith, the first two series boast a 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the third series has achieved a perfect 100% score.
2) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
Nostalgia plays a big role for fans of Masters of the Universe, and many consider the original 1983 cartoon to be the best. Released shortly after the toys first came out, the series brought the characters of Eternia to life on television, showing Prince Adam’s transformation into the incredibly powerful He-Man.
As a lifelong movie and animation fan, I remember when He-Man and the Masters of the Universe absolutely blew up. It wasn’t just a cool cartoon – it really drove the success of the toys, and led to things like She-Ra and even the Dolph Lundgren live-action movie! Honestly, the cartoon itself was just that good. Filmation, the studio behind it all, really hit a home run with He-Man; it was by far their biggest success. And it’s not just me being nostalgic, either. Looking back, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe really stands out as one of the best cartoons of the 80s.
1) She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)
The 2018 animated series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is widely considered the best show inspired by Masters of the Universe. Released on Netflix, it reimagined the original 1985 cartoon, building on its strengths and improving it in almost every way. Featuring a diverse group of characters and a compelling story, it remains one of Netflix’s top animated series.
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power received critical acclaim and won two awards: a Daytime Emmy in 2020 for its promotion, and a GLAAD Media Award in 2021 for being an outstanding show for kids and families. Throughout its five seasons, the show consistently earned high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, with three seasons achieving a perfect 100% score and the remaining seasons scoring between 87% and 94%. This reimagining of the Masters of the Universe proved to be a success, demonstrating its ability to create award-winning television.
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2026-02-09 02:44