Forbes Says He-Man Is Getting A Sequel. I Said It First. | Masters of The Universe Vindicated

Bobby Stryker
Jul 5
3 min read

A few days ago I published a video on this channel arguing that everyone calling Masters of the Universe a box office bomb was measuring the wrong thing entirely. The response was substantial — over 7,000 views, more than 100 new subscribers, and a comment section that became one of the most passionate debates I've hosted on Stryke of Midnight.

A lot of people disagreed with me.

Forbes has now published a full analysis by Caroline Reid reaching exactly the same conclusion. And they've gone considerably further.

What Forbes Found

The worldwide box office for Masters of the Universe now stands at $89.9 million — higher than the figures being cited in most "it bombed" coverage. Against a $170 million total cost, the traditional studio arithmetic still doesn't work. But as I argued in my original video, traditional studio arithmetic doesn't apply here.

Amazon MGM Studios domestic distribution chief Kevin Wilson said on record when the film opened: "This opening is exactly the kind of critical first moment that validates our holistic distribution strategy — building awareness and engagement that will carry well beyond the theatrical window."

That is an Amazon executive, named, on record, describing the theatrical release as a launchpad rather than the destination.

The France Detail That Changes Everything

Masters of the Universe was not released theatrically in France at all. French law requires streaming platforms to wait 17 months after theatrical release before putting a film on their platform. Amazon didn't want French Prime subscribers to wait that long.

So they skipped French cinemas entirely and are releasing it direct to Prime Video later this year.

Amazon made a deliberate commercial decision to sacrifice an entire major European theatrical market because getting the film to streaming faster was more valuable than the box office revenue. That is not the behaviour of a studio worried about recouping a theatrical investment.

The Sequel and She-Ra

The film introduces Princess Adora — She-Ra — in what Forbes describes as a post-credits setup for a sequel. Director Travis Knight said: "This movie stands on its own two feet. It tells a story from beginning to end. I think it has a satisfying conclusion. And yet there is a world that exists outside the frame of the film."

That is not the language of a director who thinks his franchise is finished.

The Audience Demographics

The over-35 demographic represented 57% of the opening weekend audience. The over-45s came to 36%. Children under 12 represented just 4%.

This was never a children's film. It was a nostalgia play for a generation that grew up with He-Man, is now old enough to have disposable income, and is precisely the audience most likely to hold a Prime subscription.

Where MOTU Fits The Bigger Picture

Amazon's broader exclusive content strategy covers Bond for spy thrillers, Thomas Crown Affair for action, Project Hail Mary for sci-fi, and Masters of the Universe for nostalgia-fantasy. Each piece plugs a gap in the Prime Video content slate, collectively making the platform indispensable.

Media analyst Tom Forte of Maxim Group: "Amazon is playing the long game here. To the extent these tentpole efforts increase its ability to be, ultimately, successful they should be deemed risky, but successful initiatives."

The Power Sword

Several people asked about the 1:1 steel replica Power Sword featured in the IAC Archives throughout both videos. You can get your own here: https://www.sabermach.com/