After a disappointing theatrical run, the Masters of the Universe reboot has found a massive audience on Prime Video. The film recorded 1.173 billion minutes of viewing time during the week of July 20, according to reports.
The $56 million theatrical deficit
The cinematic journey of the Masters of the Universe reboot has been defined by a stark contrast between the big screen and the small screen. After nearly 20 years in development, the Mattel franchise reboot arrived in theaters on June 5 but failed to meet commercial expectations. The film earned only $114 million worldwide, a significant shortfall when measured against its reported $170 million budget.
This $56 million deficit highlights the increasing volatility of mid-to-high budget fantasy films in the theatrical market. As Amazon MGM Studios navigates the aftermath of this box office flop, the production's ability to recoup its costs now rests heavily on its performance within the streaming ecosystem.
1.173 billion minutes of He-Man dominance
The film's arrival on Prime Video on July 22 marked a massive pivot in its lifecycle. According to reports from Puck co-founder Matthew Belloni, the movie secured the top spot on the Nielsen Top 10 Streaming chart for the week of July 20 to July 26. During this period, Masters of the Universe amassed 1.173 billion minutes of viewing time.
This streaming success allowed the film to leapfrog other major titles, including The Big Bang Theory on HBO Max, which recorded 1.122 billion minutes, and Netflix’s The Hawk, which sat in third place with 944 million minutes. Other notable entries on the chart included House of the Dragon on HBO Max and Bluey on Disney+.
Travis Knight’s star-studded Eternia
Directed by Travis Knight, known for Bumblebee, the film leans heavily on a high-profile cast to bring the world of Eternia to life. the narrative follows Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, a character who is forced to flee to Earth as a child before spending 15 years tracking down the Sword of Power. He is eventually brought back to Eternia by his childhood friend Teela, played by Camila Mendes. The ensemble cast includes:
- Idris Elba as Duncan/Man-At-Arms
- Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn
- James Purefoy as King Randor
- Morena Baccarin as The Sorceress
- Kristen Wiig as Roboto
While the film received mixed reviews, some critics found merit in its scale. For instance, ScreenRant’s Molly Freeman awarded the film 8 out of 10 stars, praising its thrilling action and family-friendly adventure elements.
Will Amazon MGM Studios greenlight a Masters of the Universe sequel?
While the streaming data is undeniably positive , several critical pieces of the franchise's future remain unverified . It is not yet clear if the studio will leverage these massive viewership numbers to justify a second installment. The studio has not officially commented on whether the streaming success offsets the financial loss from the theatrical run.
Additionally, viewers are still waiting for clarity on digital availability. While the film is scheduled for a physical release on DVD and Blu-ray on October 20, the report notes that a date for digital rentals or purchases has not been announced.
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