The Masters of the Universe franchise is going from strength to strength, continuing to expand in films, TV show, and so much more. So many 1980s TV shows began as action figures, with toy companies like Mattel often viewing TV and film as a way to advertise toys. That was the secret behind Transformers, G.I. JOE, and – of course – Masters of the Universe. Filmation’s classic 1983-1985 series is deeply loved, and its influence continues today with Travis Knight’s Masters of the Universe movie.
It’s actually very difficult to rank the various Masters of the Universe movies and TV shows. Quality isn’t the only factor to consider in any ranking; nostalgia is such a big part of this franchise, after all, and has to be recognized as well. Given that’s the case, here’s our ranking of every Masters of the Universe film and TV, including both the 2026 film and the latest animated reboot on YouTube. It also includes the various She-Ra shows, spinoffs that nevertheless play an important role in He-Man’s mythology.
10. He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)
She-Ra first appeared in 1985, and Mattel introduced her world in a Christmas special. However, much like the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, it’s not well-remembered. The story is bizarre: Orko accidentally steals a spaceship and lands on Earth, eventually returning with two children who explain the concept of Santa Claus to everyone – even Skeletor! He experiences a change of heart and starts performing good deeds, going so far as to carry around a puppy to keep warm. While you can find it on YouTube, it’s generally considered the most forgettable He-Man story ever created.
9. Masters of the Universe (1987)
The first live-action He-Man movie came out in 1987 and starred Dolph Lundgren. While originally planned as a grand, sweeping story set on the planet Eternia, financial problems at the studio, Cannon, forced them to scale back the film. Neither the director, Gary Goddard, nor the writer, David Odell, were very familiar with the He-Man franchise itself. Surprisingly, Goddard looked to He-Man comics for inspiration. Jack Kirby, a famous comic book creator, famously said Masters of the Universe felt like the best New Gods movie never made, and he wasn’t far off. Goddard even tried to hire Kirby to help with the film’s design, but Cannon couldn’t afford him.
The 1987 Masters of the Universe film has established a reputation as a cult classic, largely because of nostalgia. Lundgren’s performance somehow makes it work, but conceptually it’s barely a He-Man story. That’s why this particular film has to come so low down on the ranking.
8. The New Adventures of He-Man (1990)
Most viewers can be forgiven for never having heard of The New Adventures of He-Man. Another surprisingly bold reinvention of the franchise (complete with an opportunity to sell brand new toys), it sent Prince Adam into the far future as a member of the Galactic Guardians. Even He-Man’s slogan changed; “By the power of Eternia,” Adam called out as he initiated the transformation. This lack of continuity meant the show failed to earn an audience (even the toys were a fail, not corresponding with the classic design). It lasted 65 episodes, which is surprisingly impressive, but is notably overlooked by audiences now.
7. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Ranking these adaptations is tough because Masters of the Universe has been reimagined countless times, with many versions taking unexpected approaches to the original story. The Netflix animated series uses 3D animation and leans heavily into science fiction, offering some genuinely creative ideas – the show’s take on Teela is particularly well-done. However, the animation itself can be jarring, especially when it comes to the character of He-Man.
6. She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985)
I remember being so excited when She-Ra: Princess of Power first came on in 1985! As a spin-off of Masters of the Universe, it was clearly a smart move for Mattel – a chance to create a whole new line of toys, and this time aimed at girls like me. Honestly, the stories were just as good as the original series – plenty of silly villains and not a lot of real danger, which made it perfect for fun, lighthearted viewing. It’s wonderfully campy and brings back such great memories, even if it wasn’t exactly known for its complex plots!
5. He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword (1985)
In 1985, the popular Masters of the Universe franchise grew with the animated movie The Secret of the Sword. This film tells the story of how She-Ra came to be, showing He-Man journeying to the planet Etheria and learning that his sister has been manipulated into serving the villain Hordak and his army, the Horde. Despite some issues with the speed of the story, it’s a surprisingly well-done film. In fact, it was created by combining the first five episodes of the later series, She-Ra: Princess of Power. The movie did well in theaters, earning over three times its production cost and helping to establish She-Ra as a well-known character.
4. Masters of the Universe: Revelation
Originally advertised as a sequel to the Filmation classic, Kevin Smith’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation became deeply controversial when the story took a very different direction. That first trailer set up a joyous return for He-Man, but the main man didn’t exactly play a major role in the first story (no spoilers here). The story continued in Revelation and Revolution, each chapter better than the last, but it never really picked up traction after that disappointing beginning. Masters of the Universe: Revelation and its sequels are well worth a rewatch, though, because the complete story is much more satisfying.
3. Masters of the Universe (2026)
Travis Knight’s Masters of the Universe is an absolute joy. Thematically, the film feels like an odd blend of the 1987 Masters of the Universe movie and the classic Filmation series; the plot heads to Earth for a while to try to ground the narrative, before embracing Eternia in all its madness. This is when Masters of the Universe really kicks off, though, with iconic characters and locations lovingly brought to life. Masters of the Universe isn’t doing well in the box office, but Amazon don’t seem to care; the investment is much wider than that. So we can only hope the She-Ra setup leads to a sequel.
2. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018)
Dreamworks and Netflix collaborated on She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, which is widely considered one of the best shows inspired by Masters of the Universe. The story, primarily set on Etheria, focuses on Adora and She-Ra, and notably doesn’t include appearances by He-Man. The show is praised for its well-developed characters, compelling storylines, and beautiful animation. Unfortunately, Netflix no longer has the rights to stream She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, so viewers will need to purchase or rent it to watch this fantastic series.
1. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983)
It’s tough to top the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon. While it has some flaws – like reused animation and backgrounds, similar to She-Ra: Princess of Power – it’s the series that really set the stage for everything that came after, establishing the core stories and characters. With 80s nostalgia booming, He-Man holds up remarkably well. It’s a show with a lot of heart, simple storylines, and a unique, endearing charm.
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2026-06-11 16:17