Masters of the Universe debuted with $29.3 million domestically this weekend. The superhero film landed below industry expectations for a tentpole release. Amazon MGM Studios had hoped for closer to $40 million.

The film follows Prince Adam as he returns to Eternia to fight Skeletor. Nicholas Galitzine plays the hero. Jared Leto portrays the villain. The cast includes Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, and Alison Brie.

Director Travis Knight brought the live-action adaptation to theaters after years in development. The filmmaking team assembled a substantial budget. Studios had hoped nostalgia for the 1980s cartoon would draw audiences of all ages.

The weekend box office showed audiences still preferred comedy over action spectacle. Scary Movie 6 dominated, taking top spot easily. Masters of the Universe couldn’t overcome that competition despite releasing on Amazon MGM’s biggest platform.

International markets showed more enthusiasm. The film opened to solid numbers in several key territories. But domestic weakness will concern stakeholders who backed the project.

Reviews were mixed. Critics praised the visuals and cast chemistry. But some questioned whether the story gave characters enough depth. Word of mouth from audiences remained uncertain heading into next weekend.

The production had endured a long journey to theaters. Previous attempts at live-action adaptations had failed. This version sought to honor the source material while creating something new for modern audiences.

The opening weekend matters most for tentpole releases. Studios use first three days to gauge total box office potential. A soft opening like $29.3 million suggests the film’s total domestic run could fall short.

International potential may determine whether Masters of the Universe finds financial success. Studios increasingly depend on foreign markets for profitability. A $29.3 million opening domestically may not meet thresholds without strong overseas legs.

The film remains in theaters across the United States and beyond. Box office analysts will track second-weekend holds closely. If audiences abandon the film quickly, total take will disappoint.

This result comes as studios increasingly question superhero tentpoles. Not every property deserves a $150 million budget. Audiences want stories that matter, not just spectacle for its own sake.

Masters of the Universe will need strong holds to recover its investment. Franchise films depend on first-weekend enthusiasm. Without it, recovering costs becomes harder.