‘Masters of the Universe’ Is Breaking Theaters: Fans Are Raising Their Swords for He-Man’s Iconic Scene
There are moments in cinema that remind you why people still go to the movies together. Not for the spectacle alone, but for the communal electricity of sharing something joyful in the dark with a crowd of strangers.
This weekend, that electricity crackled through theaters everywhere as the long-awaited ‘Masters of the Universe’ reboot finally hit the big screen.
Directed by Travis Knight, the film follows Prince Adam, played by Nicholas Galitzine, as he returns to Eternia after fifteen years on Earth, only to find his home shattered under the rule of the villainous Skeletor, brought to life by Jared Leto. It is a story generations of fans have been waiting decades to see done right, and if the reaction footage sweeping social media is any indication, Knight has delivered something special.
The moment that has set the internet ablaze is Prince Adam’s long-awaited transformation sequence. In the scene, Teela urges him to use the sword, and he receives a vision of his mother, who guides him to deliver the iconic line “By the power of Grayskull, I have the POWER!”
Audiences at early screenings have responded with the kind of spontaneous, participatory energy that no marketing campaign can manufacture. Theaters leaned fully into the experience, handing out swords for audiences to raise high as if they were He-Man himself.
This kind of in-theater magic was already being hinted at months before release. At CinemaCon, Nicholas Galitzine led a crowd of theater owners and journalists with the classic call, “By the power of Grayskull…” and the entire audience answered back in unison, “I have the power!” That moment foreshadowed exactly the kind of crowd-pleasing energy that has now translated to multiplexes around the world.
The groundswell of fan enthusiasm is backed up by a wave of overwhelmingly positive critical first reactions. Journalist Perri Nemiroff called it one of the biggest surprises of the year, and critic Peter Gray described the film as knowingly cartoonish, packed with eighties vibes, and a soundtrack that hits hard. Film journalist Scott Menzel was among the first to watch ‘Masters of the Universe’ and described it as everything an eighties kid could have wanted and more.
Much of the praise has zeroed in on how faithfully Knight captured the spirit of the original animated series. Early viewers described it as a Saturday morning cartoon come to life, which is no surprise given that Knight grew up watching the animated series and has a background in animated features, having directed Kubo and the Two Strings. The word most commonly used in early reactions was “fun,” with critics comparing its self-aware tone and ensemble energy to Guardians of the Galaxy and the first Thor.
The cast has clearly connected with audiences in ways that skeptics did not anticipate. Reviewers noted that Nicholas Galitzine looks the part but that his comedic timing is what truly steals the show, while Jared Leto camps it up vocally as Skeletor in a performance that lands the right side of outrageous. The film also stars Camila Mendes as Teela, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, and Morena Baccarin as The Sorceress.
What the sword-raising footage ultimately captures is not just a crowd reacting to a cool movie moment. It is fans of a franchise that has been through decades of false starts and cancelled productions finally getting the celebration they were promised. Amazon acquired the rights to the property in 2024 after the project passed through Warner Bros., Columbia Pictures, and Netflix without ever making it to production. That long, complicated journey makes the payoff feel all the sweeter for the faithful.
‘Masters of the Universe’ is in theaters now, and if those sword-raising videos are any measure, the movie may have just unlocked one of the summer’s most joyful shared experiences. Let us know in the comments whether you raised your sword at the screening.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
