What Masters Of The Universe Redeeming Its $114M Box Office Bomb On Streaming Means For A Sequel

Published Aug 5, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT Anthony is a news reporter and a guide writer who has covered the entertainment industry for five years. He has covered a wide range of genres, including aviation incidents and international crime, and has a keen eye for details that may slip under the radar. When he's not writing, Anthony can be found at Brands Hatch race track or at home watching indie horror movies nobody has heard of. Masters of the Universe was released in theaters in June, marking the first time beloved characters like He-Man and Skeletor have been seen on the silver screen in almost four decades. The original Masters of the Universe was released in 1987, starring Dolph Lundgren as the hero of Eternia. Nicholas Galitzine plays Adam in the 2026 movie alongside an all-star cast, including Camila Mendes as Teela and Idris Elba as Duncan. The movie is full of faithful nods to the source material and serves as an origin story of sorts, as Adam learns to use the Power of Greyskull. Heroes and villains in Masters of the Universe are larger than life, and Jared Leto's Skeletor is a big highlight. He manages to be silly, yet intimidating, with an unforgettable theatrical portrayal of the antagonist. Critical reception was mixed to positive. We reviewed Masters of the Universe favorably, and many audiences seemed to leave the theaters happy. The movie had the unenviable task of pleasing fans of a classic IP while appealing to newcomers, and many viewers would agree it succeeded. The only issue is that not enough people gave it a chance. Masters of the Universe failed to draw in crowds at the theater, which puts any sequel plans in jeopardy, no matter how obviously they were hinted. However, Masters of the Universe is also an Amazon MGM film, and its performance on Prime Video has been promising based on available numbers. Masters Of The Universe Failed To Impress At The Box Office Despite positive reception among many fans who went to see Masters of the Universe, the harsh reality is that not enough people made the journey to theaters. The movie has grossed $113.7 million at the time of writing, and while surpassing $100 million is certainly a milestone, the estimated budget to break even is much higher. Movies don't just need to make back their budget either and need to soar past that amount to be successful. It's worth noting that some of the most beloved classics struggled at the box office, from Event Horizon to Fight Club, so performance does not dictate a movie's quality. Masters of the Universe's performance is likely down to numerous factors, though it did face tough competition. Obsession and Backrooms are two horror juggernauts and released around the same period. Stephen Spielberg's Disclosure Day also released on June 12, with Scary Movie later in the month. Marketing may have also played a part if the trailer failed to wow potential audiences. Masters Of The Universe Has Found An Audience On Prime Video Despite the lackluster showing in theaters, Amazon MGM is likely looking closely at the movie's performance on Prime Video. It had its streaming service debut on July 22, with a strong showing on the platform since its release. Masters of the Universe has been available to stream on Prime Video for two weeks at the time of writing, promptly taking the number one spot worldwide in late July and into August. Since its launch, Masters of the Universe has not dropped out of the top 3. In fact, it held the top spot for days worldwide and has not dipped below #2 in the US specifically. Data is limited for streaming performance, and we don't know how long Masters of the Universe will need to stay popular to please Amazon MGM. Nevertheless, audiences seem to be showing up for the 2026 movie at home even if they did not want to leave their couches for it. Could Masters Of The Universe's Performance Pave The Way For A Sequel? Without delving into spoilers, the ending of Masters of the Universe hinted at more stories in Eternia with two separate post-credit scenes. The movie still tells a fun origin story that stands on its own merit, but there's definitely more adventures to be had with Adam and his friends, should fans want them. That sentiment was shared by director Travis Knight, who revealed in an interview, "I think about what happens next for Adam." Knight explained that he has ideas for what a Masters of the Universe 2 might explore, though he was also realistic about a new project getting greenlit. Speaking about potential new stories set in Eternia, Knight said, "If the world doesn't want them, we won't tell them." Time will tell if Masters of the Universe continues its streak on Prime Video and if the studio heads at Amazon MGM deem a sequel worth making. Early data is promising, and the movie is exclusive to the platform, but we will have to wait for a statement to gauge how likely a sequel is or if we will have to wait decades once again. Release Date June 3, 2026 Runtime 141 minutes Director Travis Knight Cast Nicholas Galitzine Adam Glenn / He-Man Masters of the Universe follows Prince Adam nearly two decades after his arrival on Earth as he is summoned back to Eternia. To combat the villainous Skeletor, Adam must unlock the secrets of his past and transform into He-Man, embracing his destiny to save his homeland.