‘Masters of the Universe’ Faces Major Decline: 79% Friday Drop Threatens Box Office

The latest figures are in, and they spell trouble for He-Man. ‘Masters of the Universe’ earned only $2.4 million on its second Friday, marking a staggering 79% drop from its opening Friday. As the film’s box office performance continues to falter, the worldwide total has now surpassed $65 million, but with a hefty production budget of $170 million, this milestone feels more like a countdown to disappointment.

Directed by Travis Knight, the live-action reboot debuted domestically with $29.43 million, while its international opening of $24.65 million was equally underwhelming, indicating that global audiences were not inclined to support the film. Despite a star-studded cast that includes Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, and Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, the film failed to ignite the audience enthusiasm it desperately needed.

Current Friday estimates suggest ‘Masters of the Universe’ could see a drop of around 68% in its second weekend, projecting a three-day total of $9.4 million and landing it in fifth place. This decline is steeper than the drop experienced by ‘Mortal Kombat II’, which analysts had previously used as a comparison. Such a downturn places He-Man among recent cinematic flops, falling between ‘Mortal Kombat II’, which saw a 65% drop in its second weekend, and ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’, which dropped approximately 70%.

One particularly concerning statistic is the film’s international performance, which has stagnated at around $25 million. For a brand as globally recognized as this, it raises significant red flags, especially when compared to ‘Mortal Kombat II’, which nearly doubled that figure internationally, ultimately grossing $128.6 million worldwide—a result that was also deemed a failure.

The demographic breakdown is equally troubling, with only 5% of viewers under 12 and just 6% aged 13 to 17—key demographics for recent box office hits. Industry analyst Paul Gross pointed out that currently, only the most established superheroes are performing well, indicating a weak start for a film that had franchise potential.

‘Masters of the Universe’ is facing more than just a rough opening. As the numbers become clearer for its overall run, they reveal one of the most significant box office losses Hollywood has encountered in years. With the breakeven point estimated at about 2.5 times the production budget, the film would need to reach approximately $425 million globally—a target that now appears completely unattainable. He-Man may possess power, but the box office results tell a different story.

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