We’ve ranked all of the He-Man movies, including two animated movies. This list will be based on each film’s current Tomatometer ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. This comes ahead of the long-awaited theatrical release of the new live-action Masters of the Universe movie this Friday, June 5.
All He-Man movies ranked by RT score
4) He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)
At the bottom of the list is 1985’s He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special, which was an animated TV special that combined two popular TV shows: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and the She-Ra: Princess of Power spin-off. We’ve ranked the TV special last since it doesn’t have an available Rotten Tomatoes score. The crossover special has divided fans over the years. Even though it was heavily criticized for its bad animation and bland new characters, many fans still consider it a guilty pleasure. One of the film’s interesting highlights was its Skeletor arc, featuring the fan-favorite villain surprisingly embracing the Christmas spirit.
3) Masters of the Universe (1987)
Taking the third spot is 1987’s live-action Masters of the Universe, which starred Dolph Lundgren as He-Man. During its theatrical run, the movie received negative reviews from critics and was also a box office disappointment. It garnered an approval rating of 21% on Rotten Tomatoes, while its Popcornmeter score was slightly higher at 41%. Despite its underwhelming initial reception, the 1987 movie eventually became a beloved cult classic within the fandom. Frank Langella’s memorable performance as Skeletor was also praised, describing him as the best part of the movie.
2) The Secret of the Sword (1985)
Next up is 1985’s animated fantasy movie The Secret of the Sword, which currently has a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This film has been widely praised by fans, who were impressed with the story’s compelling narrative. It was produced by Filmmation, which created hand-painted backgrounds for the movie. Even though some fans were satisfied with the crossover film, others have criticized it for its episodic-like structure since it was actually the combined first five episodes of She-Ra: Princess of Power.
1) Masters of the Universe (2026)
Early reviews for Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe remake have determined that the new live-action movie has now become the franchise’s highest-rated installment. Ahead of its debut, the new sci-fi fantasy movie has already received a Certified Fresh score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 103 reviews. It’s the only He-Man movie to achieve this kind of instant positive feedback. Many critics are praising the 2026 adaptation for its striking visuals and entertaining story. However, some felt that the film may have overdone its comedic tone.
