'Masters Of The Universe' Star Reveals He-Man's Favorite Movie | Sorry Not Sorry
Nicholas Galitzine had the difficult task of bringing one of pop culture's most recognizable heroes to life in 2026's Masters of the Universe. Stepping into the roles of Prince Adam and his heroic alter ego, He-Man, meant balancing two very different sides of the same character. So, when the actor was asked which movie He-Man would pick as his favorite, his answer revealed a little about both of them.
Speaking to JustWatch, Galitzine admitted it wasn't the easiest question because Adam and He-Man are the same person. "Well, look, it's hard because obviously He-Man and Adam are one and the same," he explained before suggesting that Adam would probably enjoy adventures like Flash Gordon (1980) and The Goonies (1985).
Galitzine also picked two options for He-Man, although one seemed to be a more fitting pick than the other. "I think He-Man would love a bit of Conan the Barbarian," he said. "Anything that had really impressive swords in it. Maybe like Lord of the Rings or something like that." If you've never seen the 1982 classic, Galitzine's answer might sound like it's all about the swords.
But Conan the Barbarian has a lot more depth than that. The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan, whose parents are killed by the evil Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) when he was a child. When he grows up, Conan becomes a warrior who plans to avenge his parents. His quest takes him across a harsh world filled with dark sorcery and loads of memorable sword fights.
Conan Helped Define The Kind Of Fantasy He-Man Lives In
Conan the Barbarian arrived just a year before the original Masters of the Universe toy line debuted in 1983. While the two franchises tell very different stories, they were created during the same boom in sword-and-sorcery fantasy. Audiences couldn't seem to get enough of fearless warriors, so both Conan and He-Man became some of the genre's most recognizable heroes.
That's part of what makes Galitzine's answer feel so appropriate. Strip away Eternia's futuristic technology and the occasional laser blast, and the world He-Man protects isn't all that different from the one in which Conan exists. Both heroes face powerful sorcerers and spend their time battling monsters, magic, and ancient evils that threaten everything around them.
The only difference is probably the movies' actual heroes. Conan is motivated by revenge, while He-Man has always been driven by protecting the people of Eternia. One is a reluctant wanderer trying to settle an old score, and the other is a champion who willingly throws himself into danger whenever Skeletor appears.
Still, they both represent the same larger-than-life idea of heroism that made fantasy films so popular in the 1980s. And even though Galitzine mentioned the "impressive swords" as a joke, both stories celebrate heroes who courageously go up against overwhelming odds. Their legendary blades just happen to add to the overall vibe.
Why To Watch 'Conan The Barbarian' (And What To Watch After)
Conan the Barbarian is one of the coolest fantasy movies ever made because director John Milius takes his time building Conan's world, letting audiences soak in its ancient ruins and looming sense of danger. Since Conan isn't a character who talks his way through problems, Schwarzenegger is forced to rely heavily on his physical performance.
And somehow, he still makes it easy to believe he's survived years of brutal hardship. James Earl Jones is equally memorable as Thulsa Doom, bringing a subtle creep factor to a villain who doesn't need to be over-the-top to feel threatening. Even if you've never watched a sword-and-sorcery movie before, this is one of the best places to start.
If Conan the Barbarian sounds like your thing, 2007's The Last Legion is also worth adding to your watchlist. The film follows Romulus Augustus (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. With the help of Commander Aurelianus Ambrosius (Colin Firth) and wizard Ambrosinus/Merlin (Ben Kingsley), the group goes in search of the last loyal Roman legion.
The Last Legion is a little more historical compared to Conan the Barbarian. But that doesn't take away from the adventure. The movie also puts an entertaining spin on the origins of King Arthur, mixing Roman history with Arthurian mythology in a way that makes all of it feel fresh. It never reached the same legendary status as Conan the Barbarian, but it's still a fun film.
