Following the unexpected cultural and financial triumph of the Barbie film, Mattel sought to capitalise on that momentum by reviving another toy property: the 1980s He-Man animated series. The live-action adaptation stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, who must recover a legendary sword and journey back to his fantasy world of Eternia after spending 15 years stranded on Earth, ultimately confronting the antagonist Skeletor, played by Jared Leto. The production assembled a recognisable ensemble cast including Idris Elba and Alison Brie to bolster its commercial appeal.

The reboot, however, failed to replicate Barbie's cultural moment. Critics offered mixed verdicts with a 68% approval rating, whilst audiences proved somewhat more receptive at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Most tellingly, the film struggled at the global box office, earning approximately $112 million against its reported $200 million budget—a significant financial disappointment that prevented Mattel from generating the widespread enthusiasm it had anticipated.