Masters Of The Universe May Struggle To Hit $50 Million At The Global Box Office This Weekend

Masters Of The Universe May Struggle To Hit $50 Million At The Global Box Office This Weekend

The latest box office updates are in, and it's looking like a long road ahead of Amazon MGM and Sony's big-budget Masters of the Universe reboot...

By MarkCassidy - Jun 04, 2026 01:06 PM EST

Masters of the Universe hits theatres this weekend (it's already playing in several major locations around the globe), and the latest box office estimates do not bode well for Amazon MGM and Sony Pictures' reboot.

Previously predicted to take in around $35 million in North America, Deadline is now reporting that MOTU may struggle to hit $50 million worldwide after a $30 million domestic debut.

The movie was fairly well-received by critics (74% on Rotten Tomatoes) and fans of the '80s cartoon seem to have embraced it for the most part, but it may simply be a case of general audiences being apathetic about a big-screen take on a 30-year-old property that has never really had the levels of mass appeal as Star Wars, for example.

Masters of the Universe has a reported production budget of $175 million (some reckon it's closer to $200M), not factoring in additional P&A costs.

The hope is that positive word-of-mouth will benefit the PG-13 movie in the long run, but He-Man will face defeat this weekend, as Scary Movie is certain to claim the No. 1 spot with $40 million, with A24's Backrooms coming in at No. 2 with a second weekend haul of $32M-$37M. 

Do you plan on seeing any of these movies this weekend? Let us know in the comments.

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According to an updated synopsis, "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 stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, Camila Mendes as Teela, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Morena Baccarin as The Sorceress and James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley as Adam's parents, King Randor and Queen Marlena. Alison Brie will also feature as Skeletor's second-in-command, Evil-Lyn.

Sam C. Wilson will play Trap Jaw, with Kojo Attah as Tri-Klops, and Kristin Wiig recently joined the cast as the voice of Roboto.

Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will produce, along with DeVon Franklin.

About The Author:
MarkCassidy
Member Since 11/9/2008
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.
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soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/4/2026, 2:03 PM
I guess he doesn’t have the power…to turn a profit
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CristianE
CristianE - 6/4/2026, 2:10 PM
I will see it, but I understand if no one under 50 is interested. This franchise has not been handled as well (or doesn't have the potential) as Transformers. A pity if this is the case.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/4/2026, 2:16 PM
@CristianE - It also doesn’t help that it looks like it’s desperately trying to recreate the tone and feel of Thor: Ragnarok (they even got Idris Elba in a supporting role) rather than take the source material more seriously.
FASELI
FASELI - 6/4/2026, 2:38 PM
@soberchimera - More like Flash Gordon I'd say. I would say it's better than 50% of the Thor movies.
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/4/2026, 3:20 PM
@CristianE - I’m 45 grew up with cartoon with gay theme intro
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/4/2026, 3:22 PM
@soberchimera - source material have nothing do with sonic source material have change in movie it became successful that excuse sucks
Irregular
Irregular - 6/4/2026, 3:24 PM
@CristianE - My son is 15 and he is super excited to watch it despite knowing nothing of He-Man.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/4/2026, 4:46 PM
@Irregular - Show him the 2002 cartoon, its on Prime ;)
RolandD
RolandD - 6/4/2026, 9:34 PM
@soberchimera - It’s a very cheesy cartoon show that was created for the nearly sole purpose of selling toys. I don’t think it was ever intended to be taken seriously.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 6/5/2026, 1:22 AM
@soberchimera - why would they take unserious source material and make it serious?
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/5/2026, 6:55 AM
@soberchimera - did you watch it or even know anything about MOTU??
Source material was literally Action Figures. Cartoon was created to sell action figures.
I saw it last night and it is close to being the perfect live action creation of the cartoon.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/5/2026, 6:56 AM
@Itwasme - definitely wasn't serious. fantastic movie.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/5/2026, 9:04 AM
@AgentofSH1ELD - Uh huh, when did Adam travel to our Earth in the cartoon like Thor did in his first movie?
soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/5/2026, 9:10 AM
@Itwasme - Because it’s not a comedy? It’s primary genre is action/adventure, why can Transformers, G.I. Joe, and TMNT get more serious iterations but not MOTU?
soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/5/2026, 9:16 AM
@RolandD - I’m not saying it can’t have ANY levity or humor, but it CAN have higher stakes, badass action scenes, character development, and stronger continuity/world building AND sell toys. The 2002 series already proved this could be done.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/5/2026, 10:19 AM
@soberchimera - Yeah they took some liberties but why not?? He man has always been a half rip off Thor anyway! Trade the walking cane and hammer for a sword.
Doesnt make the movie any less good.
Itwasme
Itwasme - 6/5/2026, 8:23 PM
@soberchimera - maybe watch some of the original cartoon again and come back to us. The overwhelming tone is comedic and tbh extremely homo-erotic. More so than Gi Joe or Transformers. Relax a bit man.
ganicoga
ganicoga - 6/4/2026, 2:12 PM
Well, the Leto curse seemingly continues. Too bad, I had hopes for this one.
FASELI
FASELI - 6/4/2026, 2:38 PM
@ganicoga - He's actually really good in it. Which is interesting because I think he's been shit in everything I've seen.
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/4/2026, 3:21 PM
@ganicoga - think movie do better if he wasn’t in it ? That’s what tron fans don’t realize
TantricBoogie
TantricBoogie - 6/4/2026, 3:33 PM
@FASELI - frankly, there's no actual proof that's even leto😭
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 6/4/2026, 9:21 PM
@FASELI - have to strongly disagree w you on this. Glad you liked it but, to me, he was incredibly hammy and his dialogue was flat awful
RolandD
RolandD - 6/4/2026, 9:37 PM
@SauronthePower - Serious question. Isn’t it likely that they were going for hammy intentionally? I haven’t seen it so I’m asking for real.
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 6/4/2026, 9:45 PM
@RolandD - yes, but it is awful on execution. Trust me, the dialogue is atrocious and the overbearing sexual innuendo was clearly designed to ‘mature’ it up on the total

That scene that the site leaked a few days ago w Skeletor’s ‘Crescendo’ speech and Evil-Lyn’s twirling mustache response is but a taste of how bad some of the writing is at times
RolandD
RolandD - 6/4/2026, 9:51 PM
@SauronthePower - Got it. Thanks.
FASELI
FASELI - 6/5/2026, 6:37 AM
@SauronthePower - He was Skeletor.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/5/2026, 6:59 AM
@RolandD - he is full of shit. Its themed and driven towards the target audience of us. The ones that grew up with the toys and watched the cartoon. Lots of "sex" jokes that all movies have but not distasteful. Its funny as hell and geared towards the people that grew up with it who want their kids to experience it. Skeletor has always been campy and they nail it to a T. Its damn near perfect. Cartoon came to life.
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 6/5/2026, 3:51 PM
@AgentofSH1ELD - with respect, you’re out of your mind

Camp can be done phenomenally and not be utterly childish. If you think Brie was good in this then your taste barometer is indefinitely broken. Her lines came off like a Teletubbies episode

Leto wasn’t bad in the role, it’s just that he was written inconsistently and this is the problem w the movie on the whole: it doesn’t really know how to balance the camp against not going Full-Reta…..
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 6/5/2026, 9:48 PM
@FASELI - I was/am aware but Thank You
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 6/6/2026, 4:22 PM
@SauronthePower - When Leto's Skeletor is getting tons of praise from people (if anything from the movie is) and then you come along and say "trust me" he isn't worth all that; I just wonder why you're supposed to be the one to trust...?
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 6/8/2026, 6:06 AM
@IAmAHoot - I will give you a complimentary ‘like’ and reword because you decided to take it philosophical

Reword: I kindly suggest that everyone take their hard-earned compelled labor earnings, go to the theater, and judge for themselves whether this worth $17 per person

Also……the ‘praise’ you speak of for Leto in this is hardly universal

More along the lines of a 50/50, ‘well at least he didn’t f&@$ up in this one
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/8/2026, 7:08 AM
@SauronthePower - Well its a shame you didnt like it.
As a fan of series, I enjoyed it in its entirety.
Just remember, opinions are like assholes...
IAmAHoot
IAmAHoot - 6/8/2026, 7:10 AM
@SauronthePower - I never said universal praise did I? That wasn’t an accident.
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 6/8/2026, 11:19 PM
@AgentofSH1ELD - I am aware

Are you?!
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/9/2026, 7:00 AM
@SauronthePower - Card carrying.
SauronthePower
SauronthePower - 6/9/2026, 9:23 PM
@AgentofSH1ELD - Are you supervising??
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/10/2026, 7:07 AM
@SauronthePower - Yes. Among other things.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/4/2026, 2:15 PM
Damn man , that sucks if the movie does open that low but not really surprising aswell considering the franchise has limited appeal outside of the fans who grew up on the various animated iterations of the character so oh well…

Hopefully if it’s as good as some say that it does well on streaming so the sequel could be exclusively on Amazon Prime or something but we’ll see for now if WOM helps it theatrically at least.

Anyway , It looks pretty fun thus i hope to catch it in theaters this weekend!!.
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/4/2026, 3:23 PM
Surprised not doing well considering competition it have up against
Batmangina
Batmangina - 6/4/2026, 3:46 PM
Did ANYONE actually think this would be a hit?

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