Masters of the Universe (film)

This page is about the 1987 live action film. For the 2026 film, see Masters of the Universe (2026). Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science fiction and fantasy film based on the toy line of the same name. He-Man and his comrades land on Earth, discover two teenage lovers, and battle the evil Skeletor for possession of a cosmic key. Directed by Gary Goddard. Written by David Odell and Stephen Tolkin. A battle fought in the stars. Now... comes to Earth. Taglines Narrator At the center of the universe, at the border between the light and the dark stands Castle Grayskull. For countless ages, the Sorceress of Grayskull has kept this universe in harmony, but the armies of darkness do not rest, and the capture of Grayskull is ever most in their minds. For with those that control Grayskull come the Power. The power to be supreme, the power to be almighty, the power to be... Masters of the Universe. Dialogue He-Man: Let her go. Skeletor: I don't think so. No. While she remains imprisoned within this field, her powers increase my own. And when the moon reaches its zenith, the Great Eye will open, and all the powers of Grayskull will be bestowed upon me! Your wonderous Sorceress... will die. Man-At-Arms: [appalled but trying to keep Skeletor distracted] You dare threaten her life?! Skeletor: I dare anything! I am Skeletor! Throw down your weapons and pledge yourselves to me... or you will join her. He-Man: It's not her you want, it's me. It's always been between us. Skeletor: Silence. Evil-Lyn: After all this time, Grayskull is ours. Skeletor: [whips around] NO!! [Evil-Lyn shoots him an angered glare; he sits down] Mine. Sorceress: The power of Grayskull has not yet passed to you. Skeletor: Oh. [mockingly] Someone is speaking to me. Yes... Sorceress. [approaches her and stabs the Havoc Staff in the floor] My lovely prisoner, my prisoner at last. I've won. I've won. The darkness is rising to embrace you. Sorceress: The dark can embrace the light but never eclipse it. You've not won yet, Skeletor. He-Man is still alive. I can feel it. Skeletor: Really? How sensitive you are. Can you feel... this?! [uses his magic to drain her powers.] [after He-Man and his team escape using the Cosmic key] Skeletor: Find them. Trace them! I want them and that key hunted down and brought to me! Evil-Lyn: It looked as if he was punching the keys at random. There's no way of telling where they might have gone. Skeletor: Monitor the frequencies! Wherever they are, they'll use it again. When they do, lock it in. He-Man lives and possesses that key! I must possess all or I possess nothing. Find them. Man-At-Arms: Mmm... good food. Teela: I wonder why they put the meat on these little white sticks? Man-At-Arms: Those are rib bones. Teela : [pauses in shock] You mean this used to be an animal? Man-At Arms: [continues eating] Mm-hmm. Teela: Ugh! What a barbaric world... Man-At-Arms: Never think while you're hungry. Teela: I think we've wasted enough time. We'd better get back to our sectors. Gwildor: It tasted good... Julie Winston: I wish I could change things. Kevin Corrigan: But you can't. That only happens in fairy tales. He-Man: Did you have any luck? Teela: [looking at Julia] Not as much as you, apparently. [Skeletor and Evil-Lyn are flirting and making out with one another in the Castle's throne room.] Skeletor: [as he strokes her face and shoulder] Why is there still resistance? The people must know that I am Grayskull. I depend upon you for these things. You know that. Evil-Lyn: [whispers; ecstatically] The people... wait for He-Man. They believe that he will return to lead them. [seductively] For you to rule completely, he must be destroyed. Skeletor: He-Man? If I kill him, I make him a martyr, a saint. No, I want him broken. [They are about to kiss when the mercenaries suddenly enter the throne room, injured and without the Cosmic Key or He-Man.] Skeletor: [not liking what he's seeing] Where is the Key? Karg: [nervously; stammering] We, uh-uh, traced the Key's, uh, signal, uh, but were unable to take possession of it. Skeletor: [not liking what he just heard] Is that all? Karg: We-We fought with the Eternians, but, uh, were outnumbered. We thought it wise to return alive and gather a larger force. And-- Skeletor: [stands up; absolutely furious] So He-Man's free?! [the mercenaries look around nervously] You are all aware of the penalty... for failure? Blade: [pleadingly; fearing death] Give me one more chance, Lord Skeletor, and we will succeed. Skeletor: I am not in the giving vein this day. [incinerates Saurod with lightning] [Blade gasps in horror. Beastman lunges and grabs Skeletor's hand, whimpering and begging for his life] Skeletor: [disgusted and angrily] GET AWAY!!!! Karg: [pleadingly] He begs for your forgiveness, as do we all. We-We live only to serve you. Evil-Lyn: It would be a pity to waste their talents. Skeletor: [pushing her away from her towards the mercenaries; annoyed] Save your pity for yourself! If you fail. Take them and whatever troops and resources you need. Evil-Lyn: I was not suggesting that I go. Skeletor: Then you should not have spoken. Leave immediately. When you find the Key, send the sourcing signal, an attack force will join you or I will follow. Centurian: [regarding He-Man's allies] What about them, sir? Skeletor: Leave them alone. He-Man is my slave. As long as I let them live, he is bound by his word. Let them rot. [laughs] Let them rot. Skeletor: [to the heavily weakend, almost dead Sorceress] The final moment has come. All the forces of Grayskull, all the powers in the universe will be vested in me! Me! And you will cease to exist. Sorceress: It is not too late to undo this madness. Skeletor: Madness? I demand the destitution, shame, and loneliness of scorn. [speaking of the Great Eye] It is my destiny, it is my right. Nothing will deter me from it. Sorceress: Men who crave power... look back over the mistakes of their lives, pile them all together and call it "destiny". Skeletor: [laughs; mockingly] Thank you for that bit of philosophy, Sorceress. Here is my response. [triumphantly] Yes, Sorceress. [Blade hands him the Sword] The Sword of Grayskull. Mine! [installs the Sword in the Great Eye] Now and forever. [He-Man is brought forward] Your champion. Skeletor: Witness this moment, He-Man. This moment where the powers of Grayskull will become mine for eternity. Our life-long battle is ending at last in the only way it could. Warlord: Holosphere, standing by. Skeletor: When the Great Eye opens, the people of Eternia shall see you kneeling to me, just before you die. He-Man: [tries to charge at Skeletor, but is blocked by two Warlords] I'll never kneel to you! Skeletor: Yes, you will! Yes, you will! Or I shall wreak unforgettable harm upon you. Skeletor: [as Blade tortures He-Man] Where is your strength? Where has it gone, huh? Look at your precious Sorceress. An old crone. Weak, withering, dying. Are you ready to yield now, proud warrior? Warlord: The moon rises to its apex. Skeletor: [estatic] Ah... Do you hear? The Alpha... and the Omega. Death and Rebirth. And as you die, so will I be reborn. He-Man: You promised not to hurt them! Skeletor: I lied! Farewell, He-Man. [He-Man manages to pull the Power Sword out of the Great Eye, regaining his strength while the energy blinds Skeletor.] He-Man: 'I HAVE THE POWER!!' Skeletor: [angrily; refusing to accept defeat] 'No!' You will no longer stand between me and my destiny! He-Man: [unfazed] But I will. I told you that it's always between us. Skeletor: Oh, I ache to smash you out of existence. To drive your cursed face from my memory forever! He-Man: Enough talk! Skeletor: Yes! Let this be our final battle! [They clash their signature weapons together, emitting a wave of energy. Their duel continues to the depths behind the throne room until He-Man manages to chop the Havoc Staff in two, restoring Skeletor to his normal form, severely tired.] He-Man: [triumphant; almost out of energy] Skeletor... it's over. Skeletor: [through gritted teeth] Yes... [pulls out his own sword] For you. [They spar until Skeletor nearly manages to knock the Power Sword into the depths below the Castle, but He-Man grabs it. The duel continues until He-Man manages to knock Skeletor off the cliff, sending him screaming into a pit of red-hot liquid below.] Sorceress: Julie, keep this with you, and Eternia will always be near. [gives Julie a glowing blue crystal] Julie Winston: Thank you. He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms... Teela: Don't say goodbye. Say Good Journey. Man-At-Arms: It is an old Eternian saying. Live the journey, for every destination is but a doorway to another. Julie Winston: Good Journey. Taglines A battle fought in the stars. Now... comes to Earth. The live-action motion picture. Only the universe could hold adventure this big! Main cast Actor Role Dolph Lundgren He-Man Frank Langella Skeletor Meg Foster Evil-Lyn Billy Barty Gwildor Courteney Cox Julie Winston Robert Duncan McNeill Kevin Corrigan Jon Cypher Duncan (Man-At-Arms) Chelsea Field Teela James Tolkan Detective Lubic Christine Pickles Sorceress of Castle Grayskull Tony Carroll Beastman Pons Maar Saurod Anthony De Longis Blade Robert Towers Karg Barry Livingston Charlie External links Masters of the Universe (film) 0093507 Masters of the Universe Category:1987 American films Category:American drama films Category:American action films Category:American science fiction films Category:Space adventure films Category:Superhero films Category:Films based on toys Category:Live-action films based on animated series Category:Films about orphans Category:Time travel films Category:Films about witchcraft Category:Films set in New Jersey Category:Films set on fictional planets Category:Films directed by Gary Goddard