Masters of the Universe Ending Explained: How Does Skeletor Survive After Fighting He-Man?

Masters of the Universe, the new live-action adaptation of the He-Man cartoons, is now in theaters. Nicholas Galitzine takes on the role of He-Man, opposite Jared Leto’s skeletal masked villain, Skeletor. Amazon MGM Studios gives us a movie that is nostalgic, funny, action-packed, and revives our love for the IP.

In the movie, when Skeletor becomes the tyrannical ruler of Eternia, the Sorceress sends Prince Adam to Earth with the Sword of Power. However, he loses the sword and finds it only when he is an adult. His childhood friend, Teela, locates him and brings him back to Eternia to overthrow Skeletor.

When Adam returns, he meets a rebel force working against Skeletor’s regime. Adam struggles to fit in as he is not particularly strong and isn’t too keen about fighting. However, he can wield the sword, and when he utters “By the power of Grayskull”, he transforms into He-Man.

Masters of the Universe (2026)	Details
Director	Travis Knight
Based on	Masters of the Universe by Mattel
Cast	Nicholas Galitzine, Jared Leto, Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, Morena Baccarin, and Kristen Wiig
Distributed by	Amazon MGM Studios
RT Score (As of June 5, 2026)	71% | 89%
FandomWire Score	5
Release Date	June 5, 2026

In the events leading up to the climax, Skeletor’s forces attack the rebel base, but He-Man and his friends manage to escape. Skeletor threatens to kill his parents if Adam doesn’t turn himself in. Adam fights Skeletor on Snake Mountain, but his father dies during the fight. Skeletor imprisons Adam and takes the Sword of Power.

What Happens at the End of Masters of the Universe?

Prince Adam may not be the strongest without his He-Man avatar, but he still manages to inspire others to fight against Skeletor’s forces. In the final moments of Masters of the Universe, they break out of their cages, and Man-at-Arms gets his redemption arc when he is able to take down Trap Jaw.

Adam and Teela, along with his old pet, Cringer, whom he reunited with earlier, arrive at Castle Grayskull to find that the sword didn’t work for Skeletor. Adam tries to talk down the purple hooded villain, but a fight starts between them, and the Sword of Power gets broken in this fight.

While Skeletor tries to psychologically taunt Adam, he gets a vision in which the Sorceress tells him that He-Man’s powers were always within him and not with the sword. He is able to transform into He-Man, and the Sword of Power magically repairs itself.

Adam defeats Skeletor in a one-sided fight, leaving only a skull of the villain. Some time later, we see Eternia being rebuilt, and Adam has officially become the protector, He-Man.

Does Masters of the Universe Have a Post-Credits Scene?

Masters of the Universe features multiple credit scenes, so you will want to stay in your seat until the very end. There are three scenes, with the first appearing almost immediately after the film ends, just as the director’s name appears in the credits. The scene marks the live-action debut of fan-favorite character, Orko, who narrates He-Man’s victory over Skeletor.

The second is a mid-credits scene that arrives shortly afterward. This second scene is certainly a franchise-defining tease. Queen Marlena talks about Adam’s twin sister, who is still missing. It then cuts to a glimpse of the iconic character, She-Ra. We don’t see her face, so the franchise may be looking for an actress to take on the role.

She-Ra, or Princess Adora, was kidnapped by Hordak and his evil Horde forces after her birth and brought to Etheria. She becomes a Horde warrior, but once she realizes her identity, she becomes the leader of the Great Rebellion and fights for the freedom of Etheria.

It is worth sticking around until the credits finish rolling, as the film also includes a post-credits scene. This scene suggests that it is not the end of the road for one character.

Will Skeletor Return in the Future?

In the post-credits scene, we see Alison Brie’s Evil-Lyn retrieving Skeletor’s skull from the floor of Castle Grayskull. We hear the villain’s laugh in the scene, indicating that we might see him in the franchise’s future.

If the next movie explores the She-Ra lore, then it is possible that Hordak will be the main villain in the next movie. The sequel might tease Evil-Lyn resurrecting Skeletor in the background, returning him to his old, powerful self by the end of the movie.

Skeletor is a villain who you will want to see again in the franchise. Jared Leto’s performance as the villain was just incredible and fun. There’s more the villain can provide to the Masters of the Universe franchise.

What do you think of the ending of Masters of the Universe? Let us know in the comments below!

Masters of the Universe is currently in theaters near you.