Masters Of The Universe Star Reveals He-Man's Favourite Movie 

After failing to set the box-office alight in a meaningful way, Masters of the Universe has already arrived on Prime Video.

The modern update on the popular ‘80s cartoon, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe starts with a young Prince Adam being sent to Earth to escape the clutches of the evil Skeletor. Years later, now an adult, Adam is finally able to return to his home of Eternia where he uses the Sword of Power to become hench hero He-Man in a bid to vanquish Skeletor who has taken control of his home. 

WATCH NOW: He-Man's favorite movie is a 1980s classic! #mastersoftheuniverse #shorts

Masters of the Universe is far more entertaining than it has any right to be, and, although the box-office is disappointing, its arrival on streaming is perfectly timed to enthral kids throughout the summer holidays. It is also really important that Masters of the Universe performs well at home so that the studio can be convinced to forge ahead with a sequel and introduce the equally iconic She-Ra.

While kids across the UK will be spending their summer in Eternia, what movies would Prince Adam and his alter-ego He-Man be watching? JustWatch spoke to the man who plays both characters in the movie, Nicholas Galitzine, to find the answer. Before getting into the selections for Prince Adam and He-Man, Galitzine was quick to point out why it was a tricky question, replying: “Look it’s hard because obviously He-Man and Adam are one and the same.”

After a little bit of time to think, the actor was able to tap into each side of the psyche and came up with some very on-brand choices for his character(s).

Prince Adam Is a Fan of Camp Space Operas and Childhood Nostalgia

In Masters of the Universe, Prince Adam is sent to Earth as a child, tasked with being the guardian of the Sword of Power and to never forget Eternia. Adam fails his first mission during his journey to Earth, losing track of the sword in transit, leading to an obsessive search for it throughout the rest of his time on Earth. Whereas he might have failed in that task, he certainly never forgets where he came from, happily telling everyone and anyone about his life on Eternia. 

With Adam so homesick, Nicholas Galitzine suggested, “I feel that Adam would really like stuff that reminded him of his childhood. So maybe there would be some Flash Gordon in there.” Released in 1980, just a year before the first He-Man toys were released, Flash Gordon almost certainly had some influence over the Mattel toy line. Based on a comic strip of the same name, Flash Gordon sees star American football player Flash Gordon accidentally finding himself entangled with the intergalactic villain, Ming the Merciless. A superhero space opera full of high camp costumes, a legendary appearance by Brian Blessed, and a stunning soundtrack provided by Queen, Flash Gordon has plenty of heroic hijinks to please the homesick Eternian. For us Earth dwellers, Flash Gordon is a super fun jaunt across the universe that is still capable of winning over younger fans. 

Speaking on more films that would entertain Prince Adam, Galitzine shared, “I think stuff like The Goonies, things that have a childlike wonder quality.” The Goonies is an ‘80s institution. Directed by Richard Donner, the story sees a group of misfit friends, collectively called The Goonies, venture on a quest to find some legendary lost pirate treasure. Along the way they find themselves up against a criminal group also after the treasure. The Goonies is full of friendship, adventure, and childlike awe. Although 40 years old now, it continues to inspire generation after generation of viewers. 

He-Man Loves Anything With Swords In It

Just as his selections for Prince Adam make complete sense, so too do Nicholas Galitzine’s selections for He-Man. The muscular, sword-wielding character's picks are as follows: “I think He-Man would love a bit of Conan the Barbarian maybe. Anything that had really impressive swords in it. Maybe Lord of the Rings or something like that.” Conan the Barbarian is the movie that introduced Hollywood to Arnold Schwarzenegger; the former Mr. Universe plays the titular character who seeks revenge for the savage murder of his people. There are some shared themes between Conan and He-Man’s own story, so the character would likely find a lot of kinship with the movie's hero. 

The Lord of the Rings is a less obvious choice for He-Man, but the trilogy does feature several impressive blades for He-Man to fawn over. The most iconic include Andúril, Glamdring, and Sting, each carrying deep history and magical properties. With He-Man being the owner of the Sword of Power, he’d obviously enjoy digging into the lore behind each of these weapons. In addition, there is also a wonderful hero’s journey narrative as hobbit Frodo overcomes insurmountable odds to deliver the One Ring to the bowels of Mount Doom, and in doing so, saves the whole of Middle-earth from the dark clutches of Sauron. 

More Viewing Suggestions For Prince Adam and He-Man

Nicholas Galitzine’s declaration that He-Man would enjoy anything with “impressive swords in it” opens up the entirety of the swords and sandals, and swords and sorcery sub-genres. This means that He-Man would also likely get a kick out of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which recounts Homer’s Ancient Greek poem in startling clarity. Full of epic battles and mythical monsters, The Odyssey has plenty of heroics and horror to keep He-Man on the edge of his seat.

Prince Adam’s desire for movies that tap into nostalgia and to embrace childlike wonder also means that he has plenty of options. Although not a movie, the first series of Stranger Things was repeatedly compared to The Goonies, and despite its more sci-fi leanings, the comparisons are valid.

When it comes to movies, Stand By Me is a perfect choice. Based on a short story by Stephen King, Stand By Me captures the beauty of childhood friendships in a way that few others can. The NeverEnding Story is another film that captures childlike wonder, this time with the inclusion of magical beings from the land of Fantasia. It also ties in with Prince Adam’s need to watch films that remind him of home as the creatures and monsters featured could easily fit within Eternia.

If you're keen to watch (or rewatch) Masters of the Universe, you can find it on Prime Video now.