Jared Leto’s 'Masters of the Universe' is tracking lower than Tron: Ares
Box office projections for the $170 to $200 million reboot keep softening as Amazon quietly keeps Leto away from the press tour.
Early box office tracking for Amazon MGM‘s Masters of the Universe has continued to soften, with the film now projected to open in the $25 to $35 million domestic range. That puts it below recent forecasts for Disney‘s Tron: Ares, a movie that itself saw its projections revised downward before ultimately underperforming.
The numbers continue to raise questions about Jared Leto‘s commercial appeal and the challenges facing big-budget reboots of legacy properties.
Masters of the Universe projections keep sliding
When tracking first emerged earlier this year, Masters of the Universe was viewed more optimistically. However, recent updates from BoxOfficePro and other trackers show a clear downward trend.
Current estimates sit in the $25 to $35 million domestic opening weekend range. For a film with a reported $170 to $200 million budget, that is considered soft, especially for a major IP title. Leto’s casting as Skeletor has been cited by some analysts as a potential drag on broader audience interest, with Nicholas Galitzine playing the lead role of He-Man.
Amazon appears to be keeping Leto away from promotion
One of the more unusual stories surrounding the release is how little Leto has been involved in the marketing push. Leto did not attend the film’s premiere, did not appear at the studio’s CinemaCon presentation, and is not booked for any interviews to promote the movie. He also has not posted a single message about Masters of the Universe to his 11.4 million Instagram followers.
Amazon reportedly paid Leto more than $5 million for the role, which would presumably include promotion. Leto is also nearly unrecognizable in the film behind a CGI mask as Skeletor, meaning much of his value to the production would come from helping market the movie.
According to a report from Puck News, a source close to the production says Leto “wasn’t thrilled with the film.” Amazon declined to comment, and Leto’s rep did not respond.
There appears to be more to the story than creative disagreement. In June 2025, Air Mail published allegations from multiple women accusing Leto of inappropriate behavior. Leto has faced public criticism over similar accusations in previous years, and has denied wrongdoing. Industry observers have linked his absence from the press tour to a combination of those allegations and the broader commercial concerns surrounding his recent work.
Tron: Ares opened to $33.5 million on a $180 million budget
Tron: Ares followed a similar path of declining expectations.
Initial tracking had the film in the $40 to $45 million, and briefly higher, domestic range. By opening weekend, those numbers had cooled, and it ultimately debuted to $33.5 million domestically and roughly $60.5 million globally. With a production budget around $180 million, the film was widely viewed as a disappointment and effectively cooled any immediate plans for further Tron sequels.
Jared Leto’s recent box office track record
Leto’s recent filmography shows a recurring pattern of projects that either underperform relative to their budgets or fail to meet expectations.
Morbius (2022) opened to a decent $39 million but collapsed quickly. It became a major internet meme and finished with just $73 million domestically, widely regarded as a flop.
Suicide Squad (2016) was a commercial hit at $325 million domestic, but Leto’s heavily criticized performance as the Joker and the film’s messy production left a sour taste.
Tron: Ares (2025) opened below already-reduced projections and failed to justify its large budget.
Haunted Mansion (2023) saw Leto play the Hatbox Ghost in Disney’s reboot. The film had a reported production budget north of $150 million including marketing and grossed only $117 million worldwide, marking another underperformer on his résumé.
House of Gucci (2021) also underperformed despite a high-profile cast and director, adding another title to the list of recent Leto-involved projects that failed to meet expectations.
Masters of the Universe (2026) is currently tracking well below what most would consider strong for a major studio tentpole.
While Leto remains a recognizable name, he has not been a consistent box office draw in high-profile roles since the mid-2010s.
The “Jared Leto curse,” real or imagined
Online, a narrative has developed around Leto that his involvement in a project often correlates with underperformance or meme-level backlash. While partly driven by internet culture, there is some data to support the perception.
Leto’s well-documented method acting habits, combined with multiple reports over the years about difficult behavior and controversial interactions with fans, have made him a polarizing figure in Hollywood. Projects like Morbius, Haunted Mansion, and Tron: Ares have fed into the idea that his casting can become a liability with mainstream audiences rather than an asset.
Whether this is a true curse or simply the result of selective memory and online pile-ons is debatable. However, the pattern has become noticeable enough that it regularly surfaces in box office discussions, and Amazon’s apparent decision to minimize Leto’s presence in the Masters of the Universe press cycle suggests the studios themselves are increasingly taking that perception seriously.
Reactions to Masters of the Universe so far
Early reactions to Masters of the Universe have been mixed, with some describing it as campy and fun while others have found it uneven. Leto’s take on Skeletor has been a major talking point, embraced by some for its theatrical energy and questioned by others regarding its broader appeal.
With tracking currently in the mid-to-low $30 million range, the film will need strong word-of-mouth to avoid being labeled another disappointment in Leto’s recent filmography.
Article compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs (entertainment editor) and the Clownfish TV newsroom.
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Hat Tips:
BoxOfficePro and Box Office Theory, current tracking for Masters of the Universe
Puck News, reporting on Leto’s absence from the Masters of the Universe press tour
Air Mail, allegations of inappropriate behavior against Leto (June 2025)
Variety, Deadline, and The Hollywood Reporter, coverage of Tron: Ares, Haunted Mansion, and Leto’s commercial track record
Industry analysis of Jared Leto’s box office history and public perception