‘Masters of the Universe’ Flopped in Theaters But Dominated Streaming: Travis Knight Discusses He-Man’s Future

He-Man has faced challenges on the big screen for years. The ‘Masters of the Universe‘ franchise originated as a Mattel toy line in 1982, and the first live-action film featuring Dolph Lundgren failed to make an impact at the box office, leaving the property dormant for a long time.

Travis Knight’s recent reboot aimed to change this narrative, boasting a talented cast that included Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, Camila Mendes as Teela, and Idris Elba and Jared Leto as Skeletor. Unfortunately, it followed a familiar trajectory in theaters, debuting with $54 million and concluding with a total of $114 million worldwide against a hefty budget of $170 million.

However, an unexpected twist occurred. After its release on Prime Video on July 22, the film surged to become the most-watched title across all streaming platforms, according to Nielsen’s rankings for the week of July 20 to July 26, racking up an impressive 1.17 billion minutes viewed. In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant while promoting ‘Wildwood’, Knight discussed whether this resurgence could lead to more adventures on Eternia. He remarked, “In the end, these sorts of decisions are out of our control, you always imagine where these people’s lives go after the end of the movie, and if the universe, in its wisdom, asks us to make more of these things, we would be delighted to give them more.”

While this isn’t a confirmation, Knight was careful not to overpromise. He emphasized that such decisions are beyond his control and that every film must succeed or fail based on its own merits. Nevertheless, his statement about being “delighted to give them more” certainly leaves the possibility open.

Knight has previously described the filmmaking process as one of the most enjoyable experiences of his career, viewing the movie as a self-contained story. His latest comments suggest a willingness to explore further, even if there isn’t a concrete plan in place.

The film itself hints at a broader future, featuring three post-credits scenes, one of which introduces the first live-action She-Ra, portrayed by Lauren Saliu. These later scenes imply a sequel could be on the horizon, indicating that the filmmakers were considering more content despite the uncertain box office performance.

Fans hoping the Nielsen results would provide clarity may need to be patient. The film’s streaming success was short-lived, as it dropped out of Nielsen’s Top 10 overall chart for the week of July 27 to August 2. Additionally, Prime Video users gave it a modest audience rating.

Despite this, some analysts suggest that Amazon might need to reassess the film’s potential. A sequel designed specifically for Prime Video, with a more manageable budget, has been proposed as a feasible direction, which could be more practical than another large-scale theatrical release. The perception of the first movie’s success will likely influence future decisions.

Discover your true power. Watch the Teaser Trailer for Masters Of The Universe now, and see the movie only in theaters June 5. https://t.co/VCWWhwyqZD

— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) January 22, 2026

Currently, the situation presents a blend of optimism and uncertainty. Knight appears eager to return, the cast has expressed their readiness for more, and the film’s conclusion leaves space for new narratives. However, the $114 million global gross against such a substantial budget is a significant factor to consider.

What is evident is that there is genuine interest in exploring more of this iteration of Eternia. Whether that interest translates into a greenlight remains a question only Amazon can resolve.

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