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High School Musical 3: Senior Year

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Predictable but enjoyable musical makes the grade.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, friendship, growing up
updated 11.23.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

     Friendships rule, as do big hopes for the future (educational and otherwise), and all's well that ends well.
  • Role models:

    High school sweethearts are kind and supportive of each other, managing to communicate well even about difficult issues. A teenage girl deliberately hogs the spotlight and connives to be center stage.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    A father-son argument reaches near-yelling levels.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Mild flirting, lots of handholding, and one sweet kiss. A fair number of scenes with shirtless high school boys.
  • Language:

    "Butt" is about as salty as it gets.
  • Consumerism:

    The film is part of Disney's enormous High School Musical franchise, which means that though there aren't many mentions of other products in the movie, the HSM brand is front and center.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of High School Musical 3: Senior Year was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo

Parents need to know that the first big-screen High School Musical movie has been feverishly anticipated by the series' tween and teen fans. And they won't be disappointed. It's sweet, age-appropriate fun with very little edge (save for a few scenes featuring a nearly too-vampy Sharpay). There's no swearing, violence, drinking, or smoking, and the teen sweethearts don't do more than hold hands and kiss. Although it presents a "Disneyfied" view of teen life, the movie's overall message is positive and affirming (and the music is really catchy!).

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about what makes high school graduation such an important rite of passage.
  • How are each of the characters approaching the end of an era?
  • What do you think of Troy's decision in the end? How have he and the other characters changed over the course of the three movies?
  • Families can also discuss how realistic the movie is when it comes to presenting teen life. Kids: Does the movie at all reflect your own experiences? How is it similar? Different?
  • Do you think people generally get an accurate or inaccurate view of teen life from the media?
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More on High School Musical 3: Senior Year

What’s the Story?

The kids are back in a big way in HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3. It's senior year, and the Wildcats have played their last game. Up next: Prom, the big musical, and, yes, graduation. Troy (Zac Efron) seems headed for the University of Albuquerque -- until Juilliard suddenly becomes an option. Will it be basketball or theater? And will his choice alienate his best friend, Chad (Corbin Bleu)? Meanwhile, Troy's beloved Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) is bound for Stanford, but will that mean saying goodbye to Troy for good? Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale) has her eye on Juilliard, too, but there's only one scholarship up for grabs, and her twin brother, Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and their friend Kelsey, share the same dream. And then there's the gang's final stage production, a musical that's meant to be about them -- but it's hard to express who you are and what you want out of life when you don't quite know yet yourself.

Is It Any Good?

Earnest, schmaltzy, and wildly entertaining, High School Musical 3: Senior Year -- the first film in Disney's enormously popular HSM franchise to debut on the big screen -- proudly wears its heart on its sleeve. Yet it doesn't suffer from doing so, largely due to the obvious rapport of its talented cast, particularly Hudgens and Efron, who share an unmistakable chemistry (they're a couple in real life, too). And the music? It's as catchy as ever (standout tunes include the anthem-like "Now or Never," the sweet "Can I Have This Dance?" and a slowed-down, nostalgic "We're All in This Together"). The musical numbers are ambitious productions marked by exemplary choreography--the hallmark of a hit Disney feature. (We dare you not to tap your feet.)

Make no mistake: HSM 3 is cheesy. And the plot does have holes -- for starters, director Kenny Ortega's decision not to show prom at all, even though the ritual of asking dates is pumped up in the movie's first half. But it's a good kind of cheesy, the kind that gamely tugs at your heart and grows more adorable by the minute. HSM 3 proves that the franchise has the heft to make the leap from television to the big screen, and it does so with honors.

Movie Details

Studio: Disney, Director: Kenny Ortega
Run time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/23/2008, DVD release: 2/17/2009
MPAA Rating: G

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 2.0

    a little better than the rest but...

    ok this one is just a pinch better than number 1 and 2 but it is still pritty bad.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Eh.

    Real good for young kids but a snoozer for teens.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 1.0

    Didn't Like This Movie

    I saw this in theaters and got bored. I already knew what was going to happen because the comercials make it so obvious and it's mostly the same happy ending everytime!

  4. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    No Concerns. Really Good Movie.

    I loved this movie. It was a lot better than my mom expected, too. It had a really good friendship message and has really good role models in the leads. Nothing bad. It is not the best in the series, no, but it's still very good.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    fun for whole family

    We were a little hesitant taking our then 4 year old to the movies to see this one, but after seeing reviews we were glad we went. It was the best of the 3 movies. There's more romance, but nothing inappropriate. We were glad to see it in the movies and bought the DVD the day it came out.

  6. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great film

    Great movie. I loved this movie so much.

  7. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Wyoming
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    No way!

    Just another movie full of saints! They aren't really that good! This movie stinks! Please don't pull this Poop on me! not a reccomended movie. too much wannabe additude! Not reccomended! I hate this film!

  8. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Wyoming
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    No way!

    Just another movie full of saints! They aren't really that good! This movie stinks! Please don't pull this Poop on me! not a reccomended movie. too much wannabe additude! Not reccomended! I hate this film!

  9. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 2.0

    not so great.

    not a great movie.

  10. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Great

    I think it is really good and that most kids whatever age should see it

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    I think it os so like nice. I love it the best.

  12. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    Lives in Kansas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    i think this movie is one of those baby romantic musical movies i dont recomend it to anyone that is a boy.

  13. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    sweet

    sweet movie

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 5.0

    good

    i have to say i thought it would not be good and now that i saw it i really think it is good.

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 3.0

    i really see this movie!!

  17. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0

    THE BEST IN THE SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

    Get this movie free at http://tinyurl.com/c8e4bl!

  19. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    good movie

    yay i love this movie

  20. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 4 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message

    ehh...

    there was loads of kissing

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