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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.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    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. But friendships rule, as do big hopes for the future (educational and otherwise), and all's well that ends well.
 

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

About High School Musical 3: Senior Year

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!).

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • 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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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about High School Musical 3: Senior Year?
  •  I think this movie is

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See all 46 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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!

  4. 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!

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

    not so great.

    not a great movie.

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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

  10. 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

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    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.

  12. 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!!

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

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

  14. 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!

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0

    Why does Disney have to make these girls dress so trampy? I definitely don't want my 8 year old to aspire to look like Sharpay? Even the sweet innocent girls, like Gabriella are showing way too much skin. If they would have put this into consideration, this would have been a perfectly lovely movie.

  19. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    never, EVER! See HSM 3.

    this movie is utterly kleeshay. it is one of the worst movies i've ever seen.

  20. I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive consumerism

    Not so good, but not bad...

    HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, though released in theaters, is really at heart a TV movie. Thus, it is very, very easy to poke numerous holes in every scene. This movie has tons of roll-your-eye moments, tons of I-can't-believe-they're-actually-going-to-do-this moments, and lots of moments where you want to fast forward. That said, if you look past those moments, it is a sweet kids movie that has a good goal. There's some decent music and a few charming scenes, though a lot feels very contrived. There's nothing to be concerned about, but this movie is just a piece in Disney's huge HSM marketing scheme.

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