Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz discusses what fans can expect from the new movie on 'The Claman Countdown.'#fox #media #breakingnews #us #usa #new #news #breaking #foxbusiness #theclamancountdown #mattel #masters #universe #movie #film #entertainment #hollywood #fans #toys #franchise #humor #heart #adventure #fantasy
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What Ynon Kreiz said
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Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz discussed the upcoming 'Masters of the Universe' live-action film, launching June 5, 2026, from Amazon MGM Studios. He said initial reactions from premieres in L.A., São Paulo, London, and Berlin show fans are 'going wild,' and he credited director Travis Knight for bridging the brand's 40-year history with new audiences. Kreiz acknowledged not every movie will match Barbie's success but emphasized the same creative approach. On costs, he said first-quarter impact from tariffs and plastic prices was immaterial, citing a resilient supply chain. Addressing shareholder concerns, Kreiz agreed with activist investor Mack that the market undervalues Mattel, and he highlighted a new $1.5 billion buyback program over three years, noting Mattel has already repurchased 21% of its float. He stressed execution and value creation for shareholders.
Key takeaways
'Masters of the Universe' launches June 5, 2026, with fans 'going wild' after premieres in L.A., São Paulo, London, and Berlin.
Mattel announced a new $1.5 billion stock buyback program over the next three years.
Mattel has already repurchased 21% of its float, which Kreiz called a great investment.
Kreiz agreed with activist investor Mack that the market has not recognized Mattel's progress and potential.
Fox Business alert: May was the month of the moviegoer. Shares of movie theater chains are both popping like popcorn. You have AMC up 22%. Cinemark delivered its highest-ever box office performance for the month of May, and AMC also announced its highest May attendance in seven years. Both theaters point to massive turnout for blockbusters, but also smaller movies. Now, Cinemark and AMC are gearing up for this weekend's lineup that is 'Masters of the Universe,' the popular line created by Mattel in 1982, getting a live-action reboot from Amazon MGM Studios. It hits theaters Friday. Will the epic battle between He-Man and Skeletor be enough to boost the stock? Joining me now, Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz. I am excited to see this movie. Barbie did such incredible numbers. What are you expecting for this movie?
It is great to be here in New York to celebrate the launch of 'Masters of the Universe,' just ahead of the global premiere. The launch is June 5, this weekend. 'Masters of the Universe' is an epic action-adventure, a hero's journey full of heart and humor. Based on initial reactions after the premieres in L.A., São Paulo, London, and Berlin, fans are going wild. It is exciting and it is a great movie. More than anything, it is entertaining and a lot of fun.
All through social media right now. Based on initial reactions from people who watched the movie, the excitement around it going into the weekend, we're excited.
You have a predecessor that is Barbie. Barbie IP transitioned so beautifully to the movie. I can remember us years before Barbie talking about how you were going to do the Barbie movie with Easter eggs and wind up all of the marketing. It is a huge endeavor. Have you done the same for 'Masters of the Universe'?
Not every movie will be the next Barbie, but we take the same approach in collaborating with creative filmmakers to make it stand out in culture and excite global audiences. Travis Knight found a way to thread the needle, traverse from 40 years ago when the brand was created and speak to fans of the classic, to a new generation of fans that have not heard or seen 'Masters of the Universe' before. The movie will touch a lot of hearts and make people very excited.
I can imagine. For those of you who don't know, Travis Knight is the director of the film, the son of Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike. His talent supersedes a lot of other directors. The landscape has changed right now. A movie like 'Backrooms' that cost 10 million to make, it brought in 80 million domestically, 118 million globally. It was an A24 film directed by a 24-year-old YouTuber. I continue to see apples and oranges. The 'Masters of the Universe' budget is 170 million, reportedly. The landscape changes with the cost of making the films. You see a film like 'Backrooms' suddenly hauling in 80 million on its opening weekend. What does that tell you about the future of movie making?
Audiences look for quality, that is foremost. In today's world, the importance of big brands or creators with large fan bases, this is important. The fact that we can bring to market brands that have decades of fandom is meaningful. Barbie has been around for 65 years, and that speaks to the quality and generational fandom that excites with that. And the same with 'Masters of the Universe.'
We have the toys on the set, He-Man and Skeletor. I am looking at these, they are made of plastic. We have to ask about not just tariffs but plastic. It is made with petrochemicals. We know what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz. How are you managing to absorb the higher cost of plastic?
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Kreiz, Y. (2026, June 1). 'A HERO'S JOURNEY': Mattel CEO says fans are 'going wild' over 'Masters of the Universe' [Interview transcript]. Fox Business Clips. CEOInterviews.AI. https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/956436/
MLA
Ynon Kreiz. "'A HERO'S JOURNEY': Mattel CEO says fans are 'going wild' over 'Masters of the Universe'." Fox Business Clips, 1 Jun. 2026. Transcript, CEOInterviews.AI, https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/956436/.
BibTeX
@misc{kreiz2026_956436,
author = {Ynon Kreiz},
title = {'A HERO'S JOURNEY': Mattel CEO says fans are 'going wild' over 'Masters of the Universe'},
howpublished = {Interview transcript, Fox Business Clips. CEOInterviews.AI},
year = {2026},
month = {jun},
url = {https://ceointerviews.ai/interview/956436/},
note = {Speaker-attributed transcript with timestamps}
}
