It’s hard to believe that I couldn’t see that High School Musical was always there beside me.
20 years young, the iconic teen film premiered on Disney Channel on January 20, 2006. Its sequel followed suit with a highly anticipated Disney Channel debut, leading to its threequel being upscaled to a theatrical release and a larger budget.
Though on the surface, High School Musical may seem vapid or over-the-top, the core messaging that lies beneath the surface is poignant and heartfelt. It’s a story infused with queerness, gender expression, representation, and curiosity about what it means to grow up and find yourself.
In a rare case for trilogies, each film is a genuine masterpiece. None falter in storytelling or music quality; if anything, they only improve. We see a dilemma of contradictory interests in the first film, a summer extravaganza in the second, and a coming-of-age senior year in the third.
Lighthearted 2000s films like these may not be critically acclaimed, but they carry an essence of hope and joy that modern cinema lacks. From color grading to quotability to fashion-forwardness, 2000s rom-coms are widely revered. The Disney Channel days are constantly making nostalgic cultural reappearances. It’s a high compliment to compare a new release to a film from this golden age, and it’s always worth revisiting these works to relish their secret sauce.
Kenny Ortega is the director of a generation. He’s the engineer of countless classics, including the High School Musical franchise, Newsies (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993), The Cheetah Girls 2 (2006), and Descendants (2015). It came as no surprise when I found out that he had also directed 12 episodes of my favorite show, Gilmore Girls (2000-2007), among a long list of less widely known career triumphs. In 2020, Ortega was honored on Variety’s Power of Pride list for his advancement of queer storytelling and aesthetics.
In a podcast interview with Bart Johnson, who played Coach Bolton in High School Musical, Ortega shares that one specific line compelled him to do the movie:
“They’re having this debate, and Coach Bolton says, ‘Son, you’re a playmaker, you’re not a singer.’ And there’s this pause. And then, Troy says to his father, ‘Why can’t I be both?’ And that was my life. I was an athlete, and I loved theater. […] I was conned into believing that I had to be one or the other. […] So when I saw this, I thought, yeah. That young men don’t have to be embarrassed that they wanna throw a ball, and also sing a note. […] I was like, there you go. That’s important. That’s a story that needs to be told.”
And told it was. These films convey this powerful message: that masculinity and theatricality are not mutually exclusive. Twenty years later, it’s beautiful to see another explosive queer cultural moment tied to sports with the buzz around Heated Rivalry (2025-). It’s a TV series adaptation of Rachel Reid’s love story novel about two male top-of-the-league rival hockey players. Hudson Williams, who plays Shane in the show, recently shared that several closeted athletes have reached out to him and described the meaningfulness of the show to their personal lives. The pulse of culture, the TikTok edit community, has even created some Heated Rivalry videos soundtracked with High School Musical 2’s (2007) queer-coded baseball number, “I Don’t Dance.” Chad and Ryan walked so that Ilya and Shane could run.
In musical theater, some shows feature songs that are considered disfavored. “Mr. Cellophane” from Chicago (2002) gets a yawn. “A Sentimental Man” from Wicked (2024) could be skipped. No one goes out of their way to listen to “Your Eyes” from Rent (2005). However, the soundtrack of the High School Musical franchise consists of not one, not two, but three flawless albums, without even counting its incredible subsequent spin-offs or concert discography.
The songs are formulaic to what they know has worked for them, and it’s a smash hit every time: a couple of heartfelt ballads for Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens), a comical Sharpay (Ashley French) performance aesthetically reminiscent of Miss Piggy, an intense song about Troy’s internal struggles, and a huge group dance number to finish off on a high note. Not to mention, a Chad sleeper banger that reminds us all why we’re in love with Corbin Bleu. Or maybe just why I am in love with him, and always will be.
These immaculate soundtracks have a recognizability and danceability that have stood the test of time. They aren’t one-hit wonders; any song from any High School Musical album could draw a crowd for karaoke. Through the plot’s theme, they reach diverse audiences, meaning that even the most hypermasculine men I know will sing along despite their best efforts. Who could resist a basketball number that utilizes the bouncing of the ball and the squeakiness of the court in its instrumentation? Or a cooking dance jam with a drum fill interlude on pots and pans? Need I mention a prom song that has been an evergreen TikTok trend, which people go out of their way to film on their wedding day? Culturally significant is an understatement.
When you have a movie musical that came out in the 2000s, features teen stories, and was created by Disney Channel, the word “camp” is bound to surface. But do not misinterpret: these films are not “so bad they’re good.” They are masterpieces with cheesy accoutrements and relatable teenage caricatures that you find yourself smiling giddily over. They know what they are. They dominate their lane.
Troy’s immense passion for both basketball and singing is not the only special offering of this saga. It tackles conflict in both friendship and romantic relationships, from Taylor (Monique Coleman) and Chad meddling without first trying to understand their friends, to Gabriella respecting herself enough to step away from Troy when she no longer recognizes him.
The films point out the absurdity of judging those around you for deviating from the status quo. They deal with the responsibilities and struggles of growing up: working summer kitchen jobs and worrying about the murky future post-graduation. They highlight the arts, not just with audience-facing performers, but behind the scenes, drawing attention to Kelsi’s songwriting and Ryan’s choreography. High School Musical embraces individuality. All while bopping to the top.
The princess of bopping to the top is, of course, Miss Sharpay Evans. Though sometimes utilized as a villain force, she is a dynamic star. She is still friends with the East High Wildcats, even at her most diva. She is unapologetically herself. She dons only the most fabulous getups. She made an unforgettable splash in the Gen Z childhood cultural zeitgeist, particularly for the girls and gays. She was drag before we knew what drag was.
She goes after her dreams. She hears her brother say, “Sold out shows?” And she says, “Think bigger.” She wants the world, nothin’ less. All the glam and the press. The Sharpay school of manifestation does yield success, as seen in her spin-off film, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure (2011), complete with a young Austin Butler love interest. With such a dedicated fanbase, these stories are destined to persist in different forms.
In 2019, Disney+ released High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019-2023). It was a surprising treat — a mockumentary-style satirical spoof that seemed to say, “High School Musical fans who are also Gleeks? We see you, and we know you. Enjoy.” Our peers who grew up with these movies got to reinvent these beloved songs in the same hallowed halls of East High, with some guest-star appearances from the original films. The teens play theater kids putting together a production of the show “High School Musical,” followed by other productions as the series grows. Olivia Rodrigo played the lead before her music career skyrocketed, joining the ranks of a slew of A-listers who started off in Disney TV shows, including Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, and Zendaya.
High School Musical’s impact is undeniable. Although children of the 2000s like myself are uniquely privileged to have grown up during its heyday, we can only hope that future generations pass the torch and share these catchy lyrics and compelling stories with the kids of tomorrow.
When I hear my favorite song, I know that we belong. You are the music in me, HSM.
Retrospective Courtesy of Risa Bolash
Feature Image Credit to Fred Hayes/Disney Channel