It’s possible the most unbelievable thing about the 2026 “Masters of the Universe” film is what the filmmakers think Oklahoma City looks like. 

Look, the “Masters of the Universe” concept has always had a bit of silliness to it, which is part of its charm. The powerful He-Man must protect the magical land of Eternia from the evil Skeletor and his minions. There’s technology mixed with magic and sorcery, and that’s part of what made the 1980s toy line and cartoon so fun. The concept came to theaters once before, with Dolph Lundgren and a pre-”Friends” Courteney Cox, in 1987’s “Masters of the Universe.” 

This year’s film was directed by Travis Knight, who captured the 1980s vibe of “Transformers” perfectly in “Bumblebee.” I think he does a good job threading the line between serious and camp needed to make a character called “He-Man” work in the modern era.  

Nicholas Galitzine stars as Adam and He-Man; he was cast to Earth as a boy when Skeletor (Jared Leto) raided the royal compound of Eternia. Along the way, Adam lost the Sword of Power, which he’s sought ever since. He works in HR in Oklahoma City, where he gets some heat from his overly friendly boss due to his hours spent searching for swords on the internet. But a tip on the sword’s possible location incites the film’s major action, as Skeletor’s henchman Beast Man tracks Adam to Earth for an exciting chase and battle in a city that looks almost nothing like the Oklahoma City location it claims to be.  Soon, Adam is back in Eternia, meeting the powerful heroes he’s been drawing in his sketchbook for 15 years — now in hiding from Skeletor and his minions.

The Queen song in the soundtrack – and the music by Daniel Pemberton and Queen guitarist Brian May – helps cement the film’s “Flash Gordon” vibes, as a buff blond guy who grew up on Earth faces danger on another world with a team of esoteric warriors against near-cartoonish evil.  

Camila Mendes is the fiercely competent warrior Teela; her father, Man-At-Arms, is played by Idris Elba, first as a forceful general, then later as a defeated drunk wallowing in his losses.  

Alison Brie is a lot of fun as Skeletor’s lieutenant Evil-Lyn, and Morena Baccarin is suitably majestic as Eternia’s Sorceress.  

The balance between humor and action worked for me for the most part – there are a few places where it was a little juvenile, but the film largely plays everything broad. Swords, magic, goofy jokes, hairy monsters and muscular heroes  – and a tidy moral lesson at the end. What more could your inner 8-year-old want? 

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about comics, film and entertainment for more than two decades. He is the former features editor of The Oklahoman newspaper and is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.