‘Masters of the Universe’ Stumbles at Thursday Box Office, Falling Short of Expectations
Thursday night box office previews showed a clear contrast between two major summer releases: Amazon MGM’s “Masters of the Universe” and Paramount’s “Scary Movie.” Both films opened in theaters on the same night, but their early performance told very different stories.
“Scary Movie,” the returning horror-comedy franchise from the Wayans family, led the evening with strong momentum. The film brought in an estimated $7.5 million in Thursday previews. Industry watchers noted that the number reflects solid interest ahead of its full weekend rollout, especially for a comedy sequel returning after a long gap.
However, the biggest single preview result of the night actually went to “The Amazing Digital Circus,” which pulled in $7.8 million. That result is expected to be heavily front-loaded, meaning it may not fully translate into long-term box office strength.
In comparison, “Masters of the Universe” landed significantly lower in Thursday previews with $4 million. The film, directed by Travis Knight and based on the classic Mattel franchise, is still performing in line with some earlier nostalgia-based releases, but it is clearly behind its main competition heading into the weekend.
Both films began early screenings at 2PM, a common summer strategy designed to capture younger audiences and fans eager for first-day showings. Despite that similar rollout, “Scary Movie” managed to attract a larger early turnout.
The performance gap has led analysts to compare “Masters of the Universe” with other legacy franchise revivals. Similar early numbers were seen in films like “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” which opened with $4.5 million in previews, and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” which came in slightly higher at $4.7 million. These comparisons suggest that while He-Man still has recognizable brand value, it is not currently generating breakout demand at the level of top-tier franchise comebacks.
By contrast, “Scary Movie” is benefiting from a different kind of appeal. The film leans heavily on parodying recent horror hits and pop culture trends, which may be drawing more immediate audience curiosity. The marketing has emphasized unpredictability and irreverent humor, which appears to be resonating with younger moviegoers.
“Masters of the Universe” is a live-action reboot of the 1987 film and the broader He-Man franchise. The story follows Prince Adam as he returns to Eternia to embrace his destiny as He-Man and battle Skeletor. The cast includes Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, Alison Brie, Idris Elba, and others. The project has been in development for years, moving between studios before landing at Amazon MGM Studios.
Directed by Travis Knight, known for his work on “Bumblebee,” the film was positioned as a serious attempt to revive the fantasy franchise with a modern tone. It had its premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on May 18, 2026, and was released in the United States on June 5, 2026.
While critical reception has been generally mixed to positive, the early box office numbers suggest a more competitive struggle ahead, especially against stronger-performing genre releases in the same weekend window.
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