High School Musical (2006)

56% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(440,648 ratings)

The captain of the East High basketball team and the key member of the academic club shock the student body by teaming to audition for the upcoming school musical in a Disney Channel Original Movie that's all about being yourself and following your dreams. Troy (Zac Efron) is best known as the… More The captain of the East High basketball team and the key member of the academic club shock the student body by teaming to audition for the upcoming school musical in a Disney Channel Original Movie that's all about being yourself and following your dreams. Troy (Zac Efron) is best known as the player who keeps the East High basketball team on the scoreboard. Of course, life isn't always about athletics, though, and as Troy slam-dunks on the boards, beautiful and brainy Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) is raising the reputation of East High as the key member of the school's successful academic team. Despite their outgoing natures, no one would ever peg Troy and Gabriella as theater types. When word gets out that this popular pair has secretly chosen to reach for the stars and try their luck on the stage, the students of East High are about to learn an important lesson in teamwork while gearing up for a musical performance that will have their audience dancing in the aisles. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Kenny Ortega
Written By: Peter Barsocchini
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 20, 2006 Wide
On DVD: May 23, 2006
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Pop fluff intended for kids stuck between Dora the Explorer and Gossip Girl. Consider it a bonus that it's tolerable, if not fun, for the rest of us as well.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
There's no denying the tween audience was hungering for this movie, without even knowing it. [Blu-ray]
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Just as you don't have to be a fan of Westerns to enjoy Paint Your Wagon, you don't have to be a teen to appreciate this energetic musical.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Film Threat
A simplistic, and single minded teen romp filled with Disney channel regulars that disappears from your collective memory minutes after viewing it...
Emma Cochrane, Empire Magazine
As a marketing phenomenon, this has exceeded all expectations for a TV movie. However as cinema... maybe you just really need to be a teen to get it.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
A schmaltzy little piece of obvious fluff that's directed in truly horrendous fashion and populated by cardboard characters who spit out simplistic platitudes and breathy pop tunes.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
For all its ungainliness, its cheesiness, its silliness, High School Musical is undoubtedly a great big heap of fun.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...it's difficult to imagine even the most die-hard fan of musicals finding anything here worth embracing.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
the filmmakers were just trying to tell a story. Sex, drugs and violence just didn't factor into that equation
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
with a name like "Sharpay," it's gotta be good

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Cute, fun and my daughter and I had a good time watiching.
Film C

The soundtrack is enjoyable and is an entertaining movie to a point, however if this is supposed to be the best of teen movies then thats very sad! Its an average movie with average acting, yes the singing is good but you shouldnt have high expectations for this movie!
Martin S

I liked the atmosphere, it was very relaxing to watch...but that's about it. the plot wasn't unique in any way and the music was crap.
Brad W

High School Musical is just not my thing, maybe it me but I didn't like the plot or acting, but I guess the songs were okay.
Marc L

I have seen a LOT of bad movies. A LOT. More than you can count. But this. This is officialy THE worst movie in the HISTORY of mankind. And by movie, I mean the most unholy abomination to ever exist. Let's start out with the acting. At first glance, Zac Efron looks like the… More
I have seen a LOT of bad movies. A LOT. More than you can count. But this. This is officialy THE worst movie in the HISTORY of mankind. And by movie, I mean the most unholy abomination to ever exist. Let's start out with the acting. At first glance, Zac Efron looks like the worst actor in the movie. His acting is forced, laughable, and just plain bad. I wouldn;t hire that guy for a freaking ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAY! But still,l guess what. He's not even the worst!! No that title would go to Ashley Tisdale. Imagine the acting of Zac Efron, Channing Tatum and Paris Hilton combined and you've got Tisdale. And second of all, she's ugly. Which got me thinking "Why did this woman get into Hollywood?" Not exactly sure. But alas, the acting is just the tip of the iceberg for this monstrosity. The realism is next up. Here's a lesson to the 8-11 year old's who wrote all the good reviews here. HIGH SCHOOL IS NOTHING LIKE THIS!!! Nope. We don't sing and dance for no reason, we aren;t just divided into jocks and nerds (There are other people too), we don't have endless hours of freetime (try hardly any) and we do not, do NOT paint giant pictures of out jocks in the gym! That just doesn't happen kiddies, it just doesn;t happen!! Now let's move on to the "plot". I'd like to say it's a plot, but it's more like a bunch of random words piled onto each other on a paragraph. The script is weird, crappy and idiotic, and if the lines aren't forced, they're pretty much non existent. But the worst thing about this film is not the realism, not the acting, not the cheese, and not even the "plot". The worst thing about it is the publicity. Ick. In 2006, everyone was OBSESSED with High School Musical, mainly because it was the "cool" thing to do. How it became cool in the first place, I'm not sure. Bottom line, if you have ANY taste in movies, avoid this abomination like the plague.
Bethany M

I love all of them! They're amazing! Makes you cry with happiness. A must see!
Alexander D

Disney's done it once again. And by "it", I mean nothing good.
erika b

not what I expected.
Spencer S

Here is my excuse: I was thirteen, my entire hockey team was going through "team bonding," and they dragged me into it. Afterwards I felt dirty and wrong, but believe you me, I pay dearly for it. Kidding aside, good choreography. Otherwise....beware.
Bently L

The toe-tapping, fizz-pumping, catchy-tune film that kicked off an enormous worldwide fan-base. Does it deserve a big worldwide fan-base? Suprisingly it does. High School Musical is "Grease" for a new generation. It's about a dude named Troy (played by Zac Efron) who… More
The toe-tapping, fizz-pumping, catchy-tune film that kicked off an enormous worldwide fan-base. Does it deserve a big worldwide fan-base? Suprisingly it does. High School Musical is "Grease" for a new generation. It's about a dude named Troy (played by Zac Efron) who falls in love with this chick named Gabriella (played by the beautiful Vanessa Hudgens) through music. There's just one problem: he's the captain of the school's basketball team and she's a nerd. They're two different people with entirely different characters. High School Musical is a fun, sweet, and original movie with great music, and a good moral that teaches kids to believe in themselves and be who they want to be. The hype may be annoying but High School Musical is worth a try. "Good job, playmaker."
Dean !

Cheesy grins all round. Finally checked it out as it was on TV. Felt like a modern day Grease but for a younger audience. It was ok well put together, but not really my thing.
Dead A

It was a nice movie. Mostly about singing. I do like music but not like the one who's obsessed with it. Even though I wasn't bored while watching this, it doesn't go on to my recommendation list. It's good but not awesome. Watch if you want to.
Richard C

horrible, I hated it. F
KJ P

Not a big fan of musicals, but this may just be one that I find to be likable!
Alice S

I thought I would enjoy this like I enjoy "Hannah Montana" or "Wizards of Waverly Place" - in guilt and in secret - but no, it's just...not...good. Vanessa Hudgens has the tweeist singing voice and Zac Efron (albeit dreamier in <i>Hairspray</i>)… More
I thought I would enjoy this like I enjoy "Hannah Montana" or "Wizards of Waverly Place" - in guilt and in secret - but no, it's just...not...good. Vanessa Hudgens has the tweeist singing voice and Zac Efron (albeit dreamier in <i>Hairspray</i>) has a bit of a lazy eye when he pulls the "serious acting face." The most interesting character is Kelsi, the playwright, but that's all she is - a nerd girl with hat and glasses.
Kytyrah K

Painful to watch yet, in an odd way, fascinating. I was stunned. America actually pays to see this agonizing display/mix of hormones and a Disney-fied screenplay. I was not at all surprised to see a budding romance was the pivotal conflict/point of the film. The songs were predictably… More
Painful to watch yet, in an odd way, fascinating. I was stunned. America actually pays to see this agonizing display/mix of hormones and a Disney-fied screenplay. I was not at all surprised to see a budding romance was the pivotal conflict/point of the film. The songs were predictably upbeat and irrelevent. The obstacles in the plot were predictably miniscule and unimportant. The characters were predictably cheesy and one-dimensional. Heck, even the dialogue was cheep and screamed Disney. I was fascinated/horrified by how gullible and easily-pleased the younger generation is. This looks very grim indeed. These children are the next leaders of our country and they call this a movie. This settles it-I'm moving to Australia.
Thomas B

i will one day kill the creator of this phenomenon
Dean M

This Disney Channel movie makes you "dance". The songs were great especially "Get your head in the game". With some dance moves, the movie also added great humor,"love",and for those jocks out there BASKETBALL! The actors & actresses rocked the stage… More
This Disney Channel movie makes you "dance". The songs were great especially "Get your head in the game". With some dance moves, the movie also added great humor,"love",and for those jocks out there BASKETBALL! The actors & actresses rocked the stage and just made the movie a teen can watch and who knows maybe one or two can relate to Troy (Zac Efron), Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens), or even Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale). Disney has proved itself once again as the movie magnet!
Candy R

Wholesome Disney version of Grease. Two teenagers meet on holiday and then find out they are at the same school. The guy is cool and popular and the girl is a brain box and pretty. They both want to act in the school musical. No memorable songs. Teenagers are too beautiful. Not how I… More
Wholesome Disney version of Grease. Two teenagers meet on holiday and then find out they are at the same school. The guy is cool and popular and the girl is a brain box and pretty. They both want to act in the school musical. No memorable songs. Teenagers are too beautiful. Not how I remembered high school.
Luke B

Hard hitting brutal portrayal of life inside an Ameican high school. It's like overdosing on candyfloss, hallucinating, and then going cold turkey all at once. Irritatingly happy and perfect to the point one wants to punch something in the face. The songs aren't that great… More
Hard hitting brutal portrayal of life inside an Ameican high school. It's like overdosing on candyfloss, hallucinating, and then going cold turkey all at once. Irritatingly happy and perfect to the point one wants to punch something in the face. The songs aren't that great even failing to be moderately catchy. The performances range from cringe worthy to decent. It's a great story to blind kids from the harsh realities of life, where were all the pregnant teenagers? The spotty kids? The drugs and so forth? This is Disney crud and as such is painfully enjoyable. Besides that baking guy was pretty cool.