He-Man: Masters of the Universe (1987)

Taglines: A battle fought in the stars… now comes to Earth.

He-Man: Masters of the Universe movie synopsis. On the planet Eternia, the dark lord Skeletor has taken over Castle Greyskull, and imprisoned the Sorceress, and Skeletor has begun draining the Sorceress’ powers as he attempts to claim the powers of Greyskull and become master of the universe.

Mighty warrior He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe and his companions: loyal soldier Man-at-Arms, his daughter Teela and a dwarf inventor named Gwildor finds themselves on Earth, by Gwildor’s creation, the Cosmic Key, a device that can open portals that lead to anywhere in the galaxy, which Skeletor requires in his goal for universal conquest.

But when the Cosmic Key is discovered by Julie Winston and her boyfriend Kevin Corrigan, both unaware that Earth is about to become a battleground, as Skeletor and his vile minions arrives on Earth, as they go in pursuit of He-Man and his companions who are searching for the Cosmic Key so they can return to Eternia and defeat Skeletor.

Masters of the Universe is a 1987 American science fantasy action film directed by Gary Goddard and starring Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, Jon Cypher, Chelsea Field, Billy Barty and Courteney Cox. It is based on the Mattel toyline of the same name. It was released theatrically in the United States on August 7, 1987, and was a critical and commercial failure but became a popular cult film.

About the Story

On the planet Eternia, at the center of the Universe, Skeletor’s army seizes Castle Grayskull, scatters the remaining Eternian defenders, and captures the Sorceress of Grayskull, planning to add her power to his own by the next moonrise.

Skeletor’s archenemy, the warrior He-Man, veteran soldier Man-At-Arms, and his daughter Teela rescue Gwildor from Skeletor’s forces. Gwildor, a Thenorian locksmith, reveals that Skeletor has acquired his invention: a “Cosmic Key” that can open a portal to anywhere by utilizing sound keys. The device was stolen by Skeletor’s second-in-command, Evil-Lyn, allowing Skeletor to breach Castle Grayskull.

With Gwildor’s remaining prototype of the Key in hand, He-Man and his friends travel to the Castle. They attempt to free the Sorceress but are overwhelmed by Skeletor’s army and forced to flee through Gwildor’s hastily opened portal, transporting them to Earth. The Key is misplaced on their arrival and discovered by two New Jersey teenagers, orphaned high school girl Julie Winston and her boyfriend Kevin Corrigan. The pair attempt to figure out what the Key is and accidentally send a signal that allows Evil-Lyn to track the Key and send her henchmen – Saurod, Blade, Beast Man and Karg – to recover it.

Kevin, an aspiring musician, mistakes the Key for a synthesizer and takes it to a music store run by his friend Charlie. Karg’s team arrives and chases Julie until He-Man comes across her and rescues her. Karg’s team returns to Grayskull where, incensed by their failure, Skeletor kills Saurod and sends the others back to Earth, with a larger force under Evil-Lyn’s command.

Unable to find Julie, Kevin is taken to Julie’s house by Lubic, a detective investigating the disturbance created by Karg’s team. Suspecting the Key is stolen, Lubic confiscates it from Kevin and leaves. Immediately afterward, Evil-Lyn captures and interrogates Kevin for the Key’s location with a mind control collar, before pursuing Lubic.

Julie and the Eternians release Kevin from the collar before they go after Lubic. They manage to get hold of it in Charlie’s store, but Skeletor’s forces catch up with them, and a pitched battle ensues. Evil-Lyn recovers the key and summons Skeletor to Earth. Skeletor’s forces overwhelm the Eternians and Julie is mortally wounded by Skeletor’s lightning blast, which simultaneously erases the memory storage of Gwildor’s Key.

He-Man surrenders to save his comrades, and is returned to Eternia as Skeletor’s slave. Skeletor demands that He-Man kneel before him for all of Eternia to witness, before he is killed. He-Man refuses and is lashed by Blade’s laser whip in an attempt to make him kneel. He-Man is still standing when the moon rises and Skeletor absorbs the powers of the universe. Declaring himself the Master of the Universe, Skeletor asserts his victory and continues to torture He-Man with energy blasts.