High School Musical

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High School Musical

TV-G

2006

1h 36m

Kids & Family

Musical

Comedy

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Tomatometer

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.

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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

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.

Sep 10, 2019

Full Review

Anita Gates

New York Times

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.

Sep 9, 2019

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Noel Murray

AV Club

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.

Rated: B

Sep 9, 2019

Full Review

Kate Halliwell

The Ringer

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

Apr 25, 2023

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Kate Robertson

The Post NZ

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

Aug 10, 2021

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Nick Levine

Digital Spy

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.

Sep 10, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Member

The romance feels rushed, even ShuMika makes more sense. But we, UNDEAD, recommend it because it's funny af. Yumenosaki should take notes. Although, Troy Bolton reminds me of Kaoru, i don't like him.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/17/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

Full Review

Oliver L

Words can’t describe how bad this movie is.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/12/25

Full Review

matthias s

**High School Musical – 3 Stars** Man, the nostalgia hits *hard*. High School Musical still brings the charm—catchy tunes, sharp choreography, and way more heart than you'd expect from a mid-2000s Disney Channel movie. Ashley Tisdale absolutely steals the show, serving sass and vocals like a pro. It’s funny, well-sung, and honestly holds up better than it has any right to. Sure, it drags in spots (looking at you, awkward romantic tension scenes), but as a musical-loving Disney fan, I can’t help but smile. It's cheesy, it’s iconic, and yes—I still know every word to “Breaking Free.” A solid blast from the past.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

jolin t

not sure why but most disney films feel like a fever dream, especially this one. songs were good though. sharpay deserved better.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/25

Full Review

Matthew E

Childhood Kids & Family drama music drama music comedy romance-drama Teen Drama-comedy musical comedy-family High School Musical

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

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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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