High School Musical | Rotten Tomatoes

High School Musical

TV-G

2006

1h 36m

Kids & Family

Musical

Comedy

List

67%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

74%

Audience Score

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Kate Robertson

Stuff.co.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

Full Review

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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Hargie M

I have many memories connected to this movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/24/24

Full Review

Alyssa N

This is a Disney classic for people born in early 2000's. I'm biased, I'll admit it. BUT COMMON. The music is actually good. It's fun, and it's the best musical from that era. I'm a grown adult now and I still enjoy the movie. 18 years later and this movie still hasn't aged (besides the outfits)

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/24

Full Review

Tim H

Poor disappointing the acting was poor The plot was obvious, could tell you the story with out seeing the film these stories are old now

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/24

Full Review

jackson p

eh, the first movie was pretty good. not bad. it's a good movie, but after that, the franchise took a nosedive into what I like to call: milking the cow too much.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/23/23

Full Review

Maria E

Amazing 10/10 best movie I've ever watched

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

Full Review

haylen m

i am 15 years of age. i have never watched high school musical in my life, until now. my buddies thought it would be a grand idea to make me watch it. let me tell you this, that was the worst 98 minutes of my entire life. i cannot describe the aching pains i got on my bones from this monstrosity. i was able to sit threw many unfortunate, horrible, soul shattering things and i have to say this was the worse. there is nothing to prepare for the outcome of what you feel after this. i do not recommend. -1/10

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

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

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

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

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