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The Definitive Ranking of the High School Musical Movies




A topic that has caused multiple screaming matches in my house, the High School Musical movies stir up significant amounts of passion between me and my roommates. Up for discussion: what is the best and worst High School Musical movie? As a movie franchise that defined our early lives, we pull no punches in determining who is wrong. So, I present to you: the definitive ranking of the movies in the High School Musical franchise. Because I am right, and all of my roommates are wrong. 



High School Musical


The first High School Musical movie is undoubtedly the best simply because of its classic nature. That and the fact that it is the only one with an original plot considering the other two are the exact same story. Therefore, the first movie wins just because it was, in fact, the first. Let us also consider the music. While not the best soundtrack of the three movies, all of the songs are iconic in their own right. Most importantly, there are multiple scenes in the movie that make it the best movie without question. For instance, the “what the heck are those two doing in a tree” scene. Have you also considered the scene where Gabriella mysteriously disappears in the bathroom when Sharpay is looking for her? Not to mention during the championship basketball game, you can actually see the movie’s camera crew in one of the shots. Iconic, truly. There is no way to replace the first movie and no one will ever forget it, so there is no way that it can be considered anything other than the best of the three movies. 



High School Musical 3: Senior Year


This movie’s production quality is spectacular, mostly because this is the only of the three movies to be released in theaters. The musical numbers are over the top and you can clearly see that their budget increased by an enormous amount. HSM3 also features some of the cutest scenes between Troy and Gabriella. Dancing on their school's roof, Troy traveling to her at Stanford, and Troy moving 32.7 miles from her so he could pursue everything he loved?! This movie set all my expectations for love as a young child. Not to mention the movie tackling the idea of separating from your childhood friends when you get ready to go to college. HSM3 left you with a melancholy, yet hopeful ending that created the romanticized images I had of high school as a kid.



High School Musical 2


This is where it gets controversial. I know so many people that think this is the best of the 3 movies. Let me be clear: this movie is not bad--I also find it incredibly enjoyable--but in comparison to the other two I do not think it can compete. HSM2 does not have anything to do with either high school or a musical. The movie mainly functions as a way to produce memes (à la “T as in Troy” and the Bet on It dance sequence). While the music is great--my favorite song out of the entire franchise is in this movie--the plot is just kind of ridiculous. As a viewer we get to be subjected to Troy having negative character development, essentially turning into who he was before meeting Gabriella, flirting with Sharpay because he doesn’t have time to see his girlfriend, and then getting mad when Gabriella makes friends with Ryan. That’s just annoying. That being said, any movie that features a dance competition/baseball game cannot be objectively bad. 


While everyone can have their own opinions on the High School Musical movies, I’d like to think I’m right considering I have seen all of these movies upwards of 100 times (I also have a baby sister who likes watching them, I swear I don’t just watch High School Musical every day). But if you wish to share your opinions, I promise to not scream at you like I’m arguing with my roommates.

Comments

  1. elanfahApril 1, 2022 at 3:58 PM

    Hi Samantha,

    Thanks for sharing! And thanks for bringing me back to my childhood when I used to watch these movies. It's honestly been so long since I watched these movies that I can't provide the best insight but from what I can remember the first movie was by far the best. I remember the other two being rip offs and me kind of knowing what was going to happen in the end. So for that reason, I agree with you by saying the first one was by far the best.

    Elan

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 1, 2022 at 10:42 PM

    Hi Sam,

    I hate to inform you about this, but you're completely wrong. HSM 2 is THE BEST movie. Yes, Sharpay Evans is ICONIC in HSM 1, but the entire plot is so strange. Troy should be able to play basketball and act in a musical, why is everyone so judgey about it? The scenes and music from HSM 2 are superior to the other two. And yes it shows the negative aspects of Troy, but he is the worst character after all. HSM 2 is unforgettable, while the plot of the other two kind of blend together. I am happy to debate this further with you.

    - Ellie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Angelica @ My Meal PlannerApril 2, 2022 at 12:20 AM

    Hi Samantha,

    This is so iconic and I have been waiting to have this debate. I can 1000% say with my whole heart that HSM 3 is the best movie, followed by HSM 2, and then HSM 1. HSM 3 quite literally has the best soundtrack, especially when Sharpay and Ryan sang "I Want it All." Also, Troy and Chad's dance break in "The Boys are Back" was legendary. When I think about the other two movies, they really just don't compare in my head. Yeah, they had some nice songs, but HSM 3 has that extra umph that puts it over the top. Thank you for writing about this!

    Angelica

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownApril 3, 2022 at 7:39 PM

    Hi Sam,

    Your post made me laugh because I have seen all of these movies.. I just honestly forgot so much about them and your post brought back a lot of memories I had once forgotten! I am a hopeless romantic, so I feel like if I rewatched the HSM movies, I would probably love the 3rd one the best. Thank you for this hahaha

    Zoë

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lesley 340April 6, 2022 at 8:37 PM

    Hey Samantha,

    I love this post. Personally I feel like all the High School Musicals were very mediocre. But if I had to choose, I agree the first High School Musical movie is the best. I think it should have stopped at the first movie. Although, I am a hater now. I really used to like it. But after rewatching them, I decided that there was better uses of my time. The songs are still great though!

    Best,

    Lesley

    ReplyDelete

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