Entertainment
Coolest Easter Eggs You Missed In Masters Of The Universe
By Chris Snellgrove
| Updated
Tonight, I walked out of the movie theater with a huge grin on my face. To my surprise and astonishment, the new Masters of the Universe was an absolute blast. It brought the original He-Man cartoon to life with vivid performances, dynamic designs, and seemingly endless action. As an added bonus, the movie kept old-school fans’ heads on a swivel from beginning to end. Why is that? Because of all the Easter eggs!
Basically, this new movie is a love letter to all things He-Man, new and old. Accordingly, practically every scene is brimming with homages to different decades of the franchise. There are more homages than I could count, and even if I could, we’d be here all day. To save us both some time, I rounded up my favorite Easter eggs; the ones that made me want to bust out my Castle Grayskull playset and start posing all my old toys. Ready for your own “good journey?” Keep reading to discover the coolest fan service Easter eggs in Masters of the Universe!
Toys To Men
Weirdly enough, the biggest nexus of nostalgic Easter eggs in Masters of the Universe is the comics and collectibles store where Prince Adam goes to find his magic sword. The store is named The Fright Zone, which is actually an homage to He-Man’s sister, She-Ra. She battles a villain named Hordak, and he operates out of a creepy gothic metropolis known as the Fright Zone.
The interior of this store also prominently displays Big Jim toys. Big Jim was the name of a Mattel brand that came out long before He-Man. In fact, one of Big Jim’s toy designs was later modified to be Cringer, whom He-Man periodically transforms into Battle Cat. Finally, Prince Adam has to wrestle the sword out of the hands of a life-size barbarian. That barbarian may look like Conan, but he’s actually Torak, a character created by franchise designer Mark Taylor. Later, this character’s design was modified to become He-Man, meaning our hero had to wrestle himself for the sword of power!
It’s A Pig Man, Jerry (And Friends)
At one point in Masters of the Universe, Skeletor is being doted on by a subservient pig man. His appearance made my wife lean over and utter the Seinfeld quote that we share frequently around my house: “he’s a pig man, Jerry, a mutant pig man!” Later, I told her how this guy’s appearance was a weirdly meta Easter egg. The original Masters of the Universe movie held a contest for one lucky fan to have a walk-on appearance, and young Richard Szponder got to play the role of a diminutive Pigboy.
In fact, he’s one of several characters from the 1987 movie who make a cameo in Masters of the Universe. Another character is Karg, a kind of monster-faced guy who could benefit from some Just For Men. But the coolest cameo from the original movie is an appearance from original live-action He-Man actor Dolph Lundgren. He does some banter with the new He-Man actor Nicholas Galitzine (“you’re here to take my spot!”), offers some sage advice, and even says goodbye with the weird farewell phrase of the earlier film: “Good journey!”
The final major homage to the first Masters of the Universe movie is also the most dramatic. At one point in the new film, Skeletor appears as a hologram in the sky, issuing a challenge to the newly emerged He-Man. This is an Easter Egg reference to the original movie, in which Frank Langella’s Skeletor broadcasts his own message throughout Eternia. While Langella is an all-time great, Jared Leto deserves credit for making his own sky hologram appearance that much scarier (and, if we’re being honest), that much more dramatic.
Kneeling Before The Goddess
While the new Masters of the Universe has the tonal silliness of movies like Thor: Ragnarok, it still tries to be a more grounded version of the bonkers original cartoon. That left writers and producers with a distinct challenge: how do you have grown-ass men and women going by the names mentioned earlier in the toyline and in the animated series? The movie sidesteps this issue by revealing that Prince Adam gave nicknames to everyone he knew (like “Fisto” for the guy with the big fist, and “Ram Man” for the, uh, man who rams). He even gave himself the aspirational nickname “He-Man,” representing his desire to be more masculine.
One of the more confusing code names is Teela, whom a sheepish Adam admits he called “warrior goddess.” The movie jokingly plays this off as a manifestation of the young man’s fixation on this woman’s strength and beauty. However, this is a meta Easter egg referencing the He-Man minicomics that came packaged with the toys before the cartoon came out. Back then, there wasn’t a separate Sorceress character, so Teela was a literal warrior goddess who roamed Eternia, counting down the days until she would rule Castle Grayskull.
Killer Post-Credits Easter Eggs (Spoilers Past Here; You Have Been Warned!)
Ok, I hate to interrupt your good journey, but let’s make one thing very clear: there are some major spoilers from this point on. Masters of the Universe has two mid-credits scenes and one post-credits scene, all of which offer powerful hints about where this franchise will be going in the future. If you haven’t seen the movie and wish to remain unspoiled, smash that back button. Otherwise, keep reading to discover the immaculate Easter eggs hidden in these scenes!
The first “mid” credits scene occurs almost right away. It features Orko, the red-robed wizard from the cartoon, telling us what lessons Prince Adam learned in the movie. On the broadest level, this mid-credits scene serves as a notice that Orko will likely pop up in any and all future sequels. But his appearance is also a reference to the original He-Man cartoon, which always had Orko tell us the story’s primary lesson. Filmation added these public service announcement-style messages to please networks, parents, and other critics who opposed the idea of making an entire TV show just to sell toys.
The final, post-credits scene features Evil-Lyn retrieving Skeletor’s severed head; between this and his signature cackle, we know he’s still alive, which is likely an homage to the original Masters of the Universe having its own post-credits scene, which revealed that Skeletor was still alive. While that’s a fun Easter egg unto itself, it’s also interesting to remember that the first He-Man movie was doing universe-changing post-credits scenes 21 years before the first MCU movie ever hit theaters!
None of this is as interesting as the middle credits scene, which featured She-Ra, He-Man’s cousin, getting ready to fight the Evil Horde, who had brainwashed her. Her appearance here is a minor miracle because He-Man is owned by Mattel, and She-Ra is (at least, when it comes to film and TV) owned by DreamWorks. The companies don’t usually get along, which is why He-Man makes no appearance in the DreamWorks She-Ra series and She-Ra doesn’t make an appearance (not a recognizable one, anyway) in Kevin Smith’s He-Man cartoons. Now, it seems these companies have reached a Disney/Sony-style deal, and DreamWorks is finally happy to let She-Ra loose on the world of live-action sci-fi.
Entertainment
FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for July 11
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The 2026 World Cup quarter-final stage comes to a close with two major clashes today. First up is England vs. Norway, a match that sees familiar opponents and teammates from the Premir League do their duty for their respective countries — all with an eye on the spot in the semi finals.
Then it’s Argentina vs. Switzerland. Argentina are defending champions and have a certain Lionel Messi, a player many fans consider the GOAT. Switzerland are playing in this stage of the competition for the first time in 70 years.
It all kicks off at 5 p.m. ET today. Here’s all the information you need to watch these quarter-final showdowns.
FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 11
How to watch FIFA World Cup games today
Watch England vs. Norway
The England players are no stranger to Norway goal-machine Erling Haaland. He’s near unstoppable in the Premier League, where he plays for Manchester City alongside England players Marc Guéhi, John Stones, and Nico O’Reilly. His Manchester City teammates know full well what he’s capable of — but they might also know how to stop him.
There’s a similar battle of teammates-turned-opponents in the midfield. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard won the Premier League title this year with Arsenal — now they go head-to-head. And don’t forget that England have their own star striker in Harry Kane. They’re both nipping at the heels of Mbappé and Messi for the Golden Boot.
Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.
Mashable Top Stories
Watch Argentina vs. Switzerland
Argentina enter the quarter-final stage following a dramatic win over Egypt. The defending champs were losing 2-0 but scored three goals in the last 15 minutes to clinch the victory. Switzerland, on the other hand, had to slug it out with Colombia in a match that came down to nail-biting penalties.
You can never count Argentina out — particularly with Messi on the pitch — but they’ve looked vulnerable at times during this tournament. Can Switzerland cause a major upset and punch their ticket to the semi finals for the first time in World Cup history?
Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.
More live streaming options
Live TV cable replacement
Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.
These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You’ll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:
Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN
It’s possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.
You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN
Entertainment
Dyson Hushjet Mini Cool review: I tested this portable fan during 2 heatwaves to find out if its worth $100
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It’s so hot (it’s the heat). I’ve already sweltered my way through two severe heatwaves so far this summer: first a record-breaking scorcher during a trip to London, then a good old-fashioned corn-sweater in my homeland of Chicago. What better time to be trying out the new Dyson HushJet Mini Cool?
Dyson launched its first-ever bladeless portable fan in April, positioning it as a more powerful and thoughtfully designed alternative to the trendy handheld fans sold for $10ish on Amazon, Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop. It’s not that cheap, as to be expected with a Dyson gadget, coming in at a crisp $99.99. Yet it’s much less expensive than the $149.99 Shark ChillPill, another premium portable fan that beat it to the market by a month. (The Shark vs. Dyson rivalry abides.)
My colleague Samantha Mangino previously reviewed the ChillPill and really liked it, but ultimately decided it’s not worth buying at full price. After months of testing, I’ve got a verdict for the HushJet Mini Cool.
It’s super lightweight… and lampreian
The HushJet Mini Cool comes in three colorways, including stone/blush (pictured here), ink/cobalt, and carnelian/sky.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The HushJet Mini Cool has a tubular body that hides a brushless DC motor. It funnels air from a cluster of small intake holes up through a starburst-shaped nozzle. There’s a clear plastic shell around this nozzle and a honeycomb-shaped grill over the top. You can twist the plastic shell to point the nozzle upwards. Dyson throws in a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck, plus a stand and a velvet travel pouch.
On an aesthetic level, it’s a little off-putting. A visit to London’s Natural History Museum made me realize that the HushJet Mini Cool looks exactly like a beheaded sea lamprey. I’ve seen some folks accuse it of doing a Dune sandworm impression. Still others have deemed it “the Dyson butthole fan” and likened it to a sex toy. (The fleshy stone/blush colorway doesn’t help its case there; I’d go for the ink/cobalt or carnelian/sky finishes instead.)
Look, if I had to see it, so did you.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The resemblance is uncanny.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
But there’s actually a lot of merit to the HushJet Mini Cool’s strange design. Without the bulk of blades and a wired guard, it fits easily in small bags and doesn’t get caught on things. Plus, it only weighs 0.46 pounds, or just five ounces more than my iPhone 15 Pro. One day, I put it in my purse before leaving for errands and forgot it was there until hours later, when I reached for my wallet at a coffee shop. (It fits perfectly inside a one-liter belt bag, FWIW.)
I can also attest to the HushJet Mini Cool’s durability. I pulled an “Australian guy unboxing his new iPhone 6” with my review unit, and the only evidence is a barely visible scuff on its nozzle’s shell.
Out, damned spots! Out, I say!
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
While its design is sleek and sturdy, it’s not flawless. Holding the HushJet Mini Cool naturally means your palm inevitably covers a patch of its intake holes, blocking some airflow. Additionally, specks of dirt can get trapped between the nozzle and its shell, and they’re very hard to clean out. A Q-tip is too big — you’ll probably need an air compressor (or a second HushJet Mini Cool).
So anyway, I started blasting
The HushJet Mini Cool comes with a strap so you can wear it around your neck. It’s very lightweight, so you won’t strain a muscle.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The best thing about the HushJet Mini Cool is how powerful it is. There are five standard airflow speed settings to choose from, plus a Boost mode that you can enable by holding the top of its speed control button. Its lowest setting is relatively tame but still produces a nice, concentrated breeze if you hold it close to your skin. (This is the only setting you can use while it’s charging, FYI.) At settings two and up, it gusts.
Dyson says the HushJet Mini Cool can hit airflow speeds of up to 80 feet per second, or 55mph. I didn’t have an anemometer on hand to verify that, but I believe it. The upper speed settings cooled me off in seconds, and the Boost mode turned it into a handheld jet engine — you can still feel its blowing from five feet away. Dyson’s engineers crammed an astounding amount of wind into this little guy.
The HushJet Mini Cool includes a neck strap, a travel pouch, a stand, and a charging cable. Dyson will start selling a grip clip and universal mount later this summer. (They’ll cost extra.)
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The trade-off is that it’s loud and annoying. The lowest speed setting produces a conspicuous motorized whir, while the stronger ones make a vrooming sound with a high-pitched tone, almost like a dog whistle. It sounds just like a vacuum or hair dryer. (Hey, Dyson should make those!) My colleague Leah Stodart thought Dyson’s HushJet air purifier lived up to the “Hush” part of its name, but I can’t say the same for this fan.
There was one particularly blistering day in London when I walked several blocks with the HushJet Mini Cool on the fifth setting. I might as well have been holding a sign that said “TOURIST!!!” in big red letters. Though its cooling relief was welcome, I felt bad for subjecting passersby to its racket.
Battery life is decent for how powerful it is
A red indicator light on the back of the HushJet Mini Cool tells you when its battery is getting low.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The HushJet Mini Cool has a 5,000 mAh battery capacity and charges via USB-C. In my testing, it lasted six hours and 29 minutes on the lowest speed setting — a hair longer than Dyson’s advertised six hours — and at the highest (non-Boost) setting, it held out for 50 minutes. That’s not bad when you consider how hard its motor works. It won’t go all day, but it’ll at least get you through the hottest part of an afternoon.
When the HushJet Mini Cool is running low on juice, you’ll see a teeny-tiny red indicator light on the back of its base (right above the charging port). My review unit reached a full charge in about two and a half hours, which is slightly faster than Dyson’s rated charging time of three hours.
Is the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool worth it?
Holding the HushJet Mini Cool *without* blocking its intake holes means holding it kind of awkwardly.
Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable
The HushJet Mini Cool’s compact design and super-strong airflow make a persuasive case for it, but I think most people will deem it overkill — both in terms of power and price. Much cheaper portable fans we’ve tried here at Mashable suit the average person’s cooling-down needs just fine, and they don’t sound as obnoxious.
I’d really only recommend buying a HushJet Mini Cool if you find it on sale, and you plan on using it mainly in outdoor settings (or a loud bar) where it won’t be a nuisance. (I’m thinking golf, picnics, and music festivals — definitely not weddings.) Maybe pick up a pair of earplugs while you’re at it.
Without having tried the Shark ChillPill myself, it seems like a better buy if you’ve decided to splurge on your next portable fan. While it’s slightly heavier and even more expensive, it lasts almost twice as long and has a fun party trick with its swappable misting and cooling attachments. Mashable’s Mangino told me that it’s also loud, but not shrill.
Entertainment
The Most Misunderstood Sci-Fi Movie On Netflix
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Be honest: Have you ever been in a job interview, and when asked what your biggest weakness is, you want to say, “I just work too hard?” It’s the kind of thing that makes an interviewer want to kill you, but in Hollywood, veteran director Paul Verhoeven can get away with such a wild claim. That’s because he worked incredibly hard to create the stone-faced satire that transformed Starship Troopers into history’s most misunderstood sci-fi movie, and it’s available to stream on Netflix for audiences who are finally ready to get in on the joke.
Verhoeven Is A Master Of Satire
Before you start watching Starship Troopers, though, you might need a bit of context about its director. He’s made plenty of great films over the years, including Total Recall and Basic Instinct, but he is arguably best known for RoboCop.
That movie (which featured a corporate-controlled police department as a statement on the militarization of cops and the dangers of exploitative executives) was once considered the finest film satire ever made, and fittingly enough, the film that took its satirical crown away was Verhoeven’s own Starship Troopers.
Structured Like A Propaganda Video
What is Starship Troopers about, though, and where does the satire come into play with this sci-fi blockbuster? On paper, this is a pretty straightforward tale of teenagers who enthusiastically join humanity’s war effort against the alien “Arachnids,” leading to one cool action scene after another.
Look closely, though, and you’ll see the seams tearing in this easy narrative … humanity is deeply racist, and frequent propaganda spots help harness that racism into jingoistic praise of a military that can do no wrong, despite the implication that Earth actually started this devastating war.
Interestingly, even the casting emphasized this satire: for example, Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, and Neil Patrick Harris are all good-looking young actors, so nobody thinks twice about their casting as carefree teens turned into bloodthirsty soldiers. However, the movie itself is presented like a propaganda film … the kind of thing that would be shown in-universe to help recruit more kids into the military.
The more you see the creeping fascism of our main characters and this universe as a whole, the more you realize these are the exact kinds of pretty people you’d cast to make evil stop looking so banal and start looking so sexy.
Appreciated Today As Smart Satire
Now that audiences are generally more media-literate, it’s easy enough to appreciate how smart Starship Troopers really is. But when it was first released, many editors of mainstream publications didn’t clock the satire and were extremely angry at Verhoeven for releasing a film celebrating fascism.
Other critics thought the satire was functionally indistinguishable from an endorsement of these ideas, and countless fans didn’t care about these themes at all … they just wanted to see some “hoo-RAH” humans killing some evil aliens. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this cult hit, of course, but being able to appreciate the great action and fierce satire helps you get the most out of a movie that is always firing on all cylinders.
Destined To Be A Cult Classic
When Starship Troopers was first released in 1997, it wasn’t exactly a bomb, but not exactly a hit either … the movie had a budget between $100-110 million and earned $121 million worldwide which, after marketing, means it was likely a loss for the studio.
It resonated more with critics, though: on Rotten Tomatoes, it currently has a critical rating of 72 percent. Critics called the movie “fun” but complained about “the excessive gore and wooden acting,” both of which are part and parcel of the satire (though in a world where every other movie is Marvel-style slop, satire is increasingly hard to notice).
As for me, I contended that Starship Troopers is the rare literary adaptation that is far superior to the book it was based on. Robert Heinlein’s novel of the same name is a genuine sci-fi classic, but the author was so close to this universe that he never seemed to notice or care how fash-friendly slogans like “service guarantees citizenship” really are.
By contrast, Verhoeven’s adaptation serves as a commentary on the author and his work, all while delivering a killer action film that manages to be much smarter than most people watching it.
Now, I’m not saying that Starship Troopers is smarter than you, but I am saying you won’t know until you stream it on Netflix. Will you enjoy all of the knife-sharp (watch that hand, Jake Busey!) satire or just enjoy quoting great lines like “the only good bug is a dead bug?” Either way, this is one misunderstood sci-fi movie that you’ll never forget.
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