Amazon MGM Studios lifted the social media embargo for attendees of Monday night’s world premiere of Masters of the Universe at the TCL Chinese Theatre, and the first wave of reactions began landing on X early Tuesday morning. Studios pick when to lift this kind of embargo on a film-by-film basis. Lifting it before official critic reviews drop is a vote of confidence in the room’s mood.
The Hollywood Reporter aggregated more than a dozen reactions in a single piece published May 19. Across that sample the dominant tone is positive. Reviewers describe the film as “gloriously campy” (Scott Menzel), “wildly entertaining,” “a hell of a lot of fun” (Rachel Leishman), “nonstop fun,” and “one of the biggest surprises of 2026” (Perri Nemiroff). Several explicitly compare the picture to the first Thor or to the Guardians of the Galaxy template, citing a tone that locks into colorful 80s-cartoon energy rather than trying to ground the property.
Nicholas Galitzine’s performance drew specific praise for comic timing, not just look. “Nicholas Galitzine looks the part,” wrote Peter Gray, “but it’s his comedic timing that steals the show.” Andrew J. Salazar said the film “struggles to find its footing in the first half, but once it locks on its themes of fragile masculinity and ego, it makes way for an incredibly fun time that’s also visually stimulating.”
Jared Leto’s Skeletor and Alison Brie’s Evil-Lyn were repeatedly singled out. Griffin Schiller wrote, “Jared Leto is genuinely unrecognizable and very, VERY good in Masters of the Universe. He and Brie understood the assignment. Skeletor and Evil-Lyn steal the whole damn thing.” Andrew J. Salazar added that Leto’s Skeletor is “already in contention for one of the most memorable villains of the year.”
Composer Daniel Pemberton’s score, which features guitar from Queen’s Brian May, was the other element drawing repeated callouts. “Inject Daniel Pemberton’s score in my veins NOW,” wrote The Comic Nerd. Two versions of the track Eternia have been available to stream since premiere day.
Not every reaction was glowing. Gizmodo’s Germain Lussier flagged the picture as tonally uneven, writing that “serious played for laughs, laughs played for emotion, it works, it doesn’t, it really tries but ends up being too awkward,” while still praising the last 20 minutes and the end credits scenes. Brandon Norwood wrote that the film is “literally a Saturday morning cartoon come to life. Not for me, but I imagine fans will be highly pleased.”
Official critic reviews remain embargoed until closer to the June 5 release date. The social reaction is a leading indicator, not a verdict. Box office tracking, last published by Deadline on May 14, still has the film opening to roughly $35 million domestic on the same weekend as Paramount’s Scary Movie reboot.
The film opens wide on Thursday June 5 2026. Director Travis Knight. Distributor Amazon MGM Studios in North America, Sony Pictures Releasing International elsewhere.
Sources
- ‘Masters of the Universe’: First Reactions From the Premiere - The Hollywood Reporter
- Masters of the Universe movie called “nonstop fun” and “one of the biggest surprises of 2026” in first reactions - GamesRadar+
- Masters Of The Universe First Reactions Are In - Screen Rant
- First Masters Of The Universe Movie Reactions Have Critics Saying The Same Thing - SlashFilm
- ‘Masters of the Universe’ Gets Rave First Reviews - The Mary Sue
- ‘Masters Of The Universe’ First Reactions: Does Travis Knight’s Event Sci-Fi Fantasy Remake Have The Power? - The Playlist
- The First Reactions to ‘Masters of the Universe’ Are Here - Gizmodo
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