He-Man is a pop culture phenomenon. He transcended his 80s TV show and became a household name, complete with countless merchandise lines and a legendary transformation quote, and now he’s on the cusp of his second live-action theatrical film in Masters of the Universe.
The show was beloved for numerous reasons. It offered a striking blend of fantasy and sci-fi, which audiences couldn’t find elsewhere. He-Man is a charismatic star, and Skeletor is the quintessential ‘evil’ antagonist with straightforward motivations.
The latter isn’t a downside and is just one part of what makes the He-Man universe so enjoyable. If the recent Masters of the Universe trailer has got you excited to revisit Prince Adam’s home world, Eternia, here’s a selection of fantastic adventure films to tide you over.
10
Masters of the Universe (1987)
1987’s Masters of the Universe is a low-hanging fruit. Still, Gary Goddard offers a take on the franchise you won’t see anywhere else, starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man.
Fans of the universe will immediately notice the movie’s darker tone. The forces of evil have all but won as we’re introduced to the cast, and the film has an iconic, gritty, 80s sci-fi vibe.
Lundgren plays a more serious He-Man than audiences are used to, but Frank Langella’s portrayal of Skeletor makes the movie worth seeing even if you don’t agree with its direction.
Langella is clearly having a fantastic time as Skeletor. He steals the show in every scene he’s a part of, and Masters of the Universe is a worthwhile watch for his performance alone.
9
Stardust (2007)
The witches and the Yvaine in Stardust
Stardust may seem like an odd inclusion on a list for He-Man fans. Still, it’s a near-perfect fantasy adventure movie with an incredible cast and a story that is easy to watch and follow.
Tristan (Charlie Cox) heads out on a journey to retrieve a fallen star for the love of his life. His plan takes a dramatic turn when he discovers the star is a living being, Yvaine (Claire Danes), and he’s not the only person to make the journey.
A grand adventure ensues, taking the duo across a whimsical fantasy land with magical foes on their tail. Stardust is arguably an underrated masterpiece in the fantasy genre, and it’s not hard to see why the movie has retained a cult following.
8
Krull (1983)
The heroes cringe while standing in red light in Krull
Krull lacks the burly hero of Masters of the Universe. However, Prince Colwyn (Ken Marshall) is a charismatic protagonist, and the unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi makes it easy to recommend.
Krull is the name of the planet in the movie, and it’s under siege by a horrific creature known as ‘The Beast’ and its slayers. Prince Colwyn ventures on a quest to retrieve a legendary weapon to turn the tide of battle.
His journey is fraught with danger, but he has a team to help him, including a magic user. Battles in the film are memorable as the slayers use laser blasters while our heroes use typical fantasy weapons. The action also holds up considering the movie’s age, thanks to its heavy reliance on practical effects.
7
Willow (1988)
Willow is a fast-paced adventure movie, featuring supernatural foes, fantasy creatures, and a powerful sorceress who will stop at nothing to claim her prize.
The movie stars Warwick Davis as Willow, a farmer who stumbles across a special baby floating down the river. He embarks on an epic journey out of his comfort zone to keep the child safe.
Willow meets many allies on his quest, including Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), a master swordsman. While the cast is quite different from He-Man’s, the story is a similarly straightforward good-versus-evil tale.
The movie is packed with magic, intense sword fights, and a wonderfully nasty villain, Queen Bavmorda, played by Jean Marsh.
6
Conan The Barbarian (1982)
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan from official trailer on Youtube
It’s unreasonable to assume any actor could match He-Man’s muscular physique. However, Arnold Schwarzenegger comes close in his portrayal of Conan in the 1982 movie.
Conan the Barbarian is a visceral R-rated fantasy adventure complete with unforgettable sword fights and sorcery. Our hero witnesses his parents’ deaths as a child and becomes a powerful fighter as an adult. He embarks on a quest fueled by revenge with the help of his allies.
It’s a straightforward story, made all the more dramatic by Basil Poledouris’ epic musical score. Sword fights are slower than in many modern films, but feel visceral and real. The movie has a darker tone than you may find in He-Man, but it remains a timeless adventure nonetheless.
5
The Scorpion King (2002)
Dwayne Johnson as The Scorpion King in The Mummy spinoff movie.
The Scorpion King is a fun spin-off of the legendary The Mummy movies, set in the past, offering viewers a glimpse of the Scorpion King’s rise to power.
Dwayne Johnson stars as Mathayus, a skilled, muscular Akkadian warrior. He is hired to kill a sorceress (Kelly Hu) who can predict the outcome of any battle. She helps Memnon (Steven Brand), a ruthless general, to conquer the land, but everything changes when the pair meet for the first time.
Action scenes in The Scorpion King are more lighthearted and playful than in many films on this list, with a tone more similar to the He-Man TV show. Johnson plays a lovable hero on an epic adventure, even if it’s lighter on magic and sorcery.
4
Highlander (1986)
Sean Connery as Juan with Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod in HighlanderImage by Everett Collection
Highlander is a cult classic action-adventure movie, starring Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod. He’s an immortal warrior who must defeat a dangerous foe, the Kurgan, to stop him from gaining overwhelming power.
The Highlander movie has a lot in common with the 1987 Masters of the Universe. Both feature an antagonist who clearly enjoys being evil, and each movie’s story brings our heroes to Earth in the present day. Highlander doesn’t lean as heavily into sci-fi, but has a distinctive mythos of its own.
MacLeod certainly isn’t as burly as He-Man, but he’s a formidable warrior, and his showdown with the Kurgan includes arguably one of the best fantasy movie sword fights.
3
Red Sonja (1985)
An image Red Sonja from original 1985 trailer on YouTube
Red Sonja shares many similarities with He-Man. She’s an incredibly skilled warrior, particularly with a sword. The powerful Queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman) kills Sonja’s (Brigitte Nielsen) parents and leaves her for dead. A higher power rescues her as she seeks revenge.
The story isn’t complicated, but that’s what makes Red Sonja so easy to watch. The film also relies heavily on practical effects. It’s a common trait of 80s movies, and the action scenes hold up remarkably well because of it.
You won’t find any sci-fi elements in Red Sonja, as it’s ultimately a fantasy movie. Some scenes are a little dated, but it’s an entertaining adventure with a great climactic battle.
2
Flash Gordon (1980)
The vast majority of movies on this list take audiences on a journey through a fantasy land. Flash Gordon shares many similarities with Masters of the Universe, this time, in a sci-fi setting.
A spaceship from the planet Mongo crash-lands on Earth. Scientists discover that Mongo’s ruler, Emperor Ming (Max von Sydow), plans to destroy our civilization. They recruit Flash Gordon (Sam J. Jones), a footballer, to take on the Emperor on his home planet.
It’s a ridiculous premise that sets the stage for an entertaining adventure on a strange planet. Flash meets several allies on Mongo, and the movie cements its lighthearted tone early in a hilarious scene where our hero uses his football skills in battle.
1
Kull The Conqueror (1997)
While He-Man was at his peak in popularity in the 80s, many kids in the 90s enjoyed other classic adventure shows, like Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
If you were a fan of the latter and Kevin Sorbo’s portrayal of the iconic hero, you will find a lot to love in 1997’s Kull the Conqueror. Like He-Man, Kull is a mighty warrior. He leaves his kingdom in search of a mythical weapon capable of defeating Akivasha (Tia Carrere), an ancient, undead sorceress.
Like many movies on this list, Kull the Conqueror lacks the sci-fi element of Masters of the Universe, with a story firmly rooted in fantasy. However, parallels between the characters are obvious, and Kull is arguably underrated, achieving far less recognition than Conan, for example.
Kull the Conqueror is full of funny one-liners, and Sorbo plays an entertaining hero that fans of Hercules and He-Man will enjoy.