The Original Masters of the Universe Movie Is Coming to MGM+

The latest Masters of the Universe reboot may not have conquered the box office, but it likely brought back plenty of memories for fans who experienced the original He-Man craze. It may have also inspired younger viewers to explore the franchise’s history.

Now they will have the chance.

The first live-action Masters of the Universe movie, released in 1987, will arrive on MGM+ on August 13. The fantasy adventure stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor.

Although the movie received poor reviews and struggled financially when it was first released, it has developed a loyal following among cult-film fans during the decades since.

What Is the 1987 Movie About?

Based on Mattel’s popular toy line, Masters of the Universe follows Skeletor as he discovers a mysterious device known as the Cosmic Key. The weapon gives him enormous power and brings him close to taking complete control of Eternia.

He-Man joins forces with Gwildor, the inventor who created the Cosmic Key, to stop him. During a battle, one version of the device is accidentally transported to Earth, where it is discovered by two teenagers named Julie and Kevin.

He-Man and his allies travel to Earth to recover the Key, but Skeletor’s forces are not far behind. The result is a battle that brings the war for Eternia into an ordinary American town.

A Box-Office Failure That Became a Cult Favorite

Critics were not impressed when Masters of the Universe opened in theaters. The movie currently holds a 21% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 41% audience score.

The film was also a financial disappointment. It earned approximately $17.3 million at the box office against a reported production budget of $20 million.

Despite those early struggles, the movie has gained a stronger reputation among fans of 1980s fantasy, science-fiction, and cult cinema. Frank Langella’s committed performance as Skeletor remains one of the film’s most praised elements.

The movie is also receiving renewed attention through a new physical-media edition from Toy Robot Video. It is expected to be included in the company’s first group of releases in September.

Gary Goddard directed the film from a screenplay by David Odell. In addition to Lundgren and Langella, the cast includes Courteney Cox, Meg Foster, Billy Barty, James Tolkan, Christina Pickles, Jon Cypher, Chelsea Field, and Robert Duncan McNeill.

The 2026 Reboot Faced Similar Problems

The 2026 Masters of the Universe reboot earned considerably more than the 1987 movie, but it reportedly faced similar financial difficulties.

The newer film grossed approximately $111 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $200 million. While it received more favorable reviews and some positive word of mouth, it was unable to attract enough moviegoers to recover its production costs through its theatrical run.

Lundgren, who played He-Man in the original film, recently expressed surprise over the reboot’s disappointing performance.

“Yeah, I was a bit disappointed,” Lundgren said. “Everybody told me it was going to do great. I’m not a huge believer in looking at the box office and letting that influence how I feel emotionally about a picture, but I did think, ‘That was strange that it didn’t do better.’”

The 2026 reboot is now streaming on Prime Video, where it has reportedly attracted stronger interest from home audiences.

With the reboot available on Prime Video and the original movie arriving on MGM+, fans will soon be able to watch both live-action versions as a Masters of the Universe double feature.

Masters of the Universe (1987) begins streaming on MGM+ on August 13.