Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
To mark the release of the new Masters of the Universe film, Matt Swaford of Reklaimer's Vintage Toys (instagram.com/reklaimers_vintage_toys/https://www.instagram.com/reklaimers_vintage_toys/) joins us to revisit Cannon Films' notorious attempt to launch the cinematic branch of Mattel's toy franchise in 1987. Featuring an all-star cast of Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, James 'Mr Strickland' Tolkan, a pre-Voyager Robert Duncan MacNeill, and pre-almost everything Courteney Cox, the film is most remembered for disappointing fans of the sword and sorcery sci-fi mash-up by setting most of the action in a school gymnasium on present day Earth, and replacing Orko and Battle Cat with the more budget-friendly Billy Barty in an orange troll make-up.
But is it an unfairly maligned hidden gem or a best-forgotten example of 80s genre excess on the cheap? Find out!
Support us on Patreon (patreon.com/movieoubliette) to nominate films for us to cover, access exclusive bonus content, and vote on the final verdict!
Rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice, and tell a friend about us.
Follow us on TikTok (tiktok.com/@movie.oubliette), YouTube (youtube.com/c/MovieOubliette), Instagram (instagram.com/movieoubliette/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/movieoubliette.bsky.social).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/33454316?utm_source=youtube
Support the show and get access to bonus content on patreon.com/movieoubliette
To mark the release of the new Masters of the Universe film, Matt Swaford of Reklaimer's Vintage Toys (instagram.com/reklaimers_vintage_toys/https://www.instagram.com/reklaimers_vintage_toys/) joins us to revisit Cannon Films' notorious attempt to launch the cinematic branch of Mattel's toy franchise in 1987. Featuring an all-star cast of Dolph Lundgren, Frank Langella, James 'Mr Strickland' Tolkan, a pre-Voyager Robert Duncan MacNeill, and pre-almost everything Courteney Cox, the film is most remembered for disappointing fans of the sword and sorcery sci-fi mash-up by setting most of the action in a school gymnasium on present day Earth, and replacing Orko and Battle Cat with the more budget-friendly Billy Barty in an orange troll make-up.
But is it an unfairly maligned hidden gem or a best-forgotten example of 80s genre excess on the cheap? Find out!
Support us on Patreon (patreon.com/movieoubliette) to nominate films for us to cover, access exclusive bonus content, and vote on the final verdict!
Rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice, and tell a friend about us.
Follow us on TikTok (tiktok.com/@movie.oubliette), YouTube (youtube.com/c/MovieOubliette), Instagram (instagram.com/movieoubliette/) and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/movieoubliette.bsky.social).
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Episode link: https://play.headliner.app/episode/33454316?utm_source=youtube
Support the show and get access to bonus content on patreon.com/movieoubliette
