Is 'Masters of the Universe' OK for little kids? A parent's guide
Is 'Masters of the Universe' OK for little kids? A parent's guide
Brian Truitt, USA TODAYFri, June 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM UTC
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Forty years ago, kids dreamed of being like He-Man and harnessing their inner action hero by uttering some magic words and wielding a super-cool sword. Might we be running that back?
"Masters of the Universe" (in theaters June 5) reimagines He-Man, Skeletor, Man-At-Arms and all their friends and foes from the 1980s toy/cartoon franchise in a modern fantasy action-adventure. The movie even captures that nostalgia from a child's perspective, in addition to boasting a whole lot of action and assorted colorful characters. While it might skew kid-friendly, though, is it OK for youngsters to see?
Here's what moms and dads going into "Masters of the Universe":
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What is 'Masters of the Universe' about?
He-Man (Nicholas Galitzine) harnesses the power of Grayskull taking out Skeletor's goons in the fantasy adventure "Masters of the Universe."
Several years after being sent to Earth by his royal parents for his safety, Adam Glenn (Nicholas Galitzine) yearns to return to his home world of Eternia. To do that, he first has to find a magical power sword. Once he reclaims it – from a collectibles store – Adam is rescued from Earth by his childhood friend Teela (Camila Mendes) and returned to Eternia. The realm has been devastated by the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto), who wants that sword for his own nefarious schemes. To reclaim his homeland, Adam harnesses the power of Grayskull to transform into the mighty He-Man, teaming with heroes like Fisto and Ram Man to battle Skeletor's dark army.
Who is He-Man?
He-Man, the alter ego of Prince Adam and a blond barbarian superhero known for his rippling muscles and furry loin cloth, first appeared in 1982 as an action figure in Mattel's first "Masters of the Universe" toy line. A year later, he showed up on TV screens as part of the "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" cartoon series. During the same decade, He-Man also was featured in comic books and video games as well as the 1987 "Masters of the Universe" movie starring Dolph Lundgren.
Over the years, He-Man has appeared on toy shelves in different versions and in various animated reboots, including Netflix's "Masters of the Universe" series, 2021's "Revelation" and 2024's "Revolution."
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What is the 'Masters of the Universe' age rating?
Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba, left) has a heart-to-heart with Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) in "Masters of the Universe."
The movie is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association "for sequences of violence/action, some suggestive material and language." There is quite a lot of cartoonish violence, and many nameless characters get shot and fall to their apparent deaths while others are stabbed or killed.
"Masters" leans a bit risqué in its comedic double entendres: There's a lot of talk around "fisting" with a character named Fisto who has a huge metal right fist, and mentions of "Give 'em head" with Ram Man, a guy with a steel helmet who smashes things with his noggin. And beware of some salty language as well. In one scene where Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba) trains a bunch of young warriors, he says the word "ass" an inordinate number of times.
How long is 'Masters of the Universe'?
The runtime of "Masters of the Universe" is two hours and 12 minutes. Although there is a lot of action throughout, it is pretty long. If your youngster needs a quick bathroom trip or break from the movie, the best time to do so would be when He-Man and Teela start having a deep conversation in the Eternian forest.
Is 'Masters of the Universe' OK for kids?
Jared Leto's Skeletor is more funny than scary in "Masters of the Universe."
It's very much geared toward '80s kids − who grew up loving He-Man back in the day – yet for this generation of youngsters, "Masters" is more for the tween and teen set. While the sexual humor will likely go over a lot of children's heads, the violence is pretty rampant through harrowing chase scenes and fearsome brawls. And even though some of the villains He-Man fights seem sort of scary – especially a large horned dude named Goat Man – the skull-faced Skeletor is more over-the-top funny than frightening.
Working in its favor for youthful moviegoers: "Masters" doles out some positive messaging about masculinity, teamwork and how sometimes it's better to talk through a situation rather than fight.
Which of the 'Masters of the Universe' popcorn buckets is best for kids?
The lineup of He-Man concession merch is rather impressive, especially the power sword drink vessel. (Say it with me: "By the power of Grayskull, I have the Pepsi!") When it comes to popcorn buckets, though, you can't beat the Castle Grayskull with places for popcorn, candy and a drink for multiple youngsters (or a single very hungry one). And for the kidults in the crowd, there's the Skeletor throne with action figures and an LED light.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is 'Masters of the Universe' OK for kids? A guide for moms and dads
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
