The infamous high school movies. . .

Where instead of doing calculus, they sing and dance about the highs and lows of high school football (JK. That’s from Riverdale).

But they are in high school. And they do perform musical numbers instead of doing their homework.

My personal high school experience was nothing like these iconic Disney movies, but I still treasure them anyway, so it’s okay that they lied to me.

The closest we have to Troy Bolton at BAHS is Brady Mayo (Mr. Kissick, can we please leave this in?).

So I’m going to be ranking the three musical movies, and comparing them to (my) personal high school experience.

High School Musical (2006)

The classic first installment, where Troy grapples between basketball and his dream of singing in the musical. Through his love interest, Gabriella, Troy learns that, yes, it’s okay to participate in multiple school activities (who would’ve thought?).

This first movie was nothing like my personal experience. No basketball players are participating in the musical (that I know of) and no musical members are shooting 3-pointers after school.

The only thing I will say about the first High School Musical that does match with my my experience is people judging others for doing something (or anything) different (tea time🍵🍵).

High School Musical 2 (2007)

The second movie focuses on the kids' summer of sophomore year where they work at a country club and participate in the club’s annual summer charity concert.

The only job I’ve ever had in the summer was Bruster’s Ice Cream, and it was NOT fun (shoutout Bru Crew tho🫶🫶). I did not get to sing and dance at a pool, but rather make sundaes for a line of people down the parking lot.

I will say this movie has the best songs out of the trilogy!

High School Musical 3 (2008) (They were really pumping out these movies. How did they film them that fast?)

High School Musical 3 focuses on their senior year, and it’s my favorite film of the trilogy. Usually if a film franchise makes it to the third film, it becomes tired and boring. But I think they brought a rejuvenated and sentimental spirit to this movie that the other two lacked.

A basketball championship, prom, a play, and graduation all occur in this movie, making it very relevant to my life right now.

However, I did not break out my own songs and dances during the musical (I think Mrs. D would be quite peeved) nor did I perform a self-penned song at prom.

But the air of friendship and nostalgic moments throughout this movie are relatable (CORNBALL).

And while my high school experience may not have included spontaneous song and dance numbers, I can’t deny that these movies had a part in shaping my ideas of friendship and doing what you love.

Turns out I do, in fact, want the rest of my life to feel just like a High School Musical (who would’ve thought?).