High School Musical

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High School Musical

TV-G,

2006,

1h 36m,

Kids & Family/

Musical/

Comedy

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Watchlist

Watchlist

67%

21 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), the star athlete at a small-town high school, falls for nerdy beauty Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) at a holiday karaoke party. When they return to campus, Troy and Gabriella audition for the upcoming school musical. Meanwhile, the jealous Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) conspires to squelch their chances. The two must struggle to make it to auditions while also meeting their existing obligations to the basketball team and the academic decathlon.

Critics Consensus

High School Musical is brazenly saccharine, but it makes up for it with its memorable show tunes, eye-popping choreography, and appealing cast.

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Laura Fries

Variety

Sep 10, 2019

Although the plot's not particularly novel, writer Peter Barsocchini's script maintains the fantasy elements while incorporating topical and relevant themes into the story.

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Anita Gates

New York Times

Sep 9, 2019

It would be unfair not to salute the movie's message about broadening one's horizons and not being limited by stereotypes or peer pressure. But when an admirable message is packaged in such treacle, it just makes the message seem treacly, too.

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Noel Murray

AV Club

Sep 9, 2019

B

Mostly, High School Musical makes an appealing case for an idealized vision of high school, where individuality is celebrated and even the mean kids know everyone's name.

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Kate Halliwell

The Ringer

Apr 25, 2023

School spirit is forever, though. May the legacy of the East High Wildcats never die.

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Kate Robertson

The Post NZ

Aug 10, 2021

If a pre-teen in your life hasn't seen this coming-of-age classic, it's time to sit down and educate them.

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Nick Levine

Digital Spy

Sep 10, 2019

High School Musical is kitsch, sexless and hopelessly clichéd, but it manages to offer a giddy sense of fun to a generation that's overdosing on seriousness.

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Abraham R

Apr 26, 2019

High school Musical is the precursor to its better sequels. It sets up all of the characters that flourish in the sequels. The character arc of both Troy and Gabriella are cliche but I would also argue classic. The whole film is executed smoothly with a story that may not be the most interesting but is still compelling and fun the whole way through. Zac Efron at the time did not sing because unlike the next two films this one contained music that was not written specifically to match his voice. The development of Troy and Gabriella's relationship is well set up here, a perfect precursor for the trials it goes through in the film following.

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Finn W

Apr 22, 2019

The made-for-TV movie that became a classic solely because of Zac Efron, the choreography, and the music. And really, the choreography and music are where this movie really shines. Other than that, it's still just a cheap Romeo and Juliet modernization, with a predictable plot and even more predictable characters. Only worth watching for the music.

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Finn L

Mar 2, 2019

High School Musical is a tough film to sit through to the end thanks to a super cliche plot and cheesy characters, but has great songs to ease the pain.

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Kylo L

Feb 9, 2019

This movie defined my childhood. Deserves 200% being honest...

Hermione S

Feb 4, 2019

I thought this movie was a great mixture of shyness and confidence. I loved it.

Abraham G

Feb 2, 2019

For all its cheesiness and catchy songs, High School Musical could at least have chosen to hire real actors instead of some clumsy Disney talents.

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Kenny Ortega

Director

Zac Efron

Troy Bolton

Vanessa Hudgens

Gabriella Montez

Ashley Tisdale

Sharpay Evans

Lucas Grabeel

Ryan Evans

Alyson Reed

Ms. Darbus

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Synopsis

Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), the star athlete at a small-town high school, falls for nerdy beauty Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) at a holiday karaoke party. When they return to campus, Troy and Gabriella audition for the upcoming school musical. Meanwhile, the jealous Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale) conspires to squelch their chances. The two must struggle to make it to auditions while also meeting their existing obligations to the basketball team and the academic decathlon.

Director: Kenny Ortega
Producer: Don Schain
Screenwriter: Peter Barsocchini
Production Co: Walt Disney Pictures, First Street Films, Salty Pictures Inc.
Rating: TV-G
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Runtime: 1h 36m

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