Poster art for "High School Musical 3: Senior Year."

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So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 57 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
8 OK for kids 8+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    These are standard youth-movie dilemmas, but they're brought to life by the high-energy cast and the musical numbers, which Ortega shoots with electrifying pizzazz. Read full review

  • 70
    Washington Post | Ann Hornaday

    Exudes genuine appeal, thanks to director Kenny Ortega's brilliant choreography and a gifted cast. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times |

    For those scoring at home, the third entry in the "High School Musical" series is better than the second but doesn't quite sustain the unvarnished, giddy highs of the first. Read full review

  • 63
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Even if the refreshing gust doesn't stay with you long, it's fun while it lasts. Read full review

  • 60
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    A candy-colored never-never land that Peter Pan might envy. Read full review

  • 50
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    For all its unforgivable blandness, "High School Musical" opens young audiences to the charms of this most transporting of movie genres. Read full review

  • 50
    The Hollywood Reporter |

    The result unfortunately has the blandness of a mediocre TV sitcom. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety |

    While Ortega and fellow choreographers Charles Klapow and Bonnie Story stretch their imaginations, there's something almost lazy about the picture's underachiever script. Read full review

  • 50
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Hartlaub

    Unfortunately, the writing has become so bad that it becomes impossible to keep your head in the game - even as your toes continue to tap to the beat. Read full review

  • 25
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    If you're gay and/or eight years old, HSM3 is the movie event of the year. Read full review

View more reviews for High School Musical 3: Senior Year on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 8+ Predictable but enjoyable musical is fine for tweens.
What Parents Need to Know 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 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?
The good stuff
  • message true4 Positive messages:  Friendships rule, as do big hopes for the future (educational and otherwise), and all's well that ends well.
  • rolemodels true3 Positive 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 for
  • violence false0 Violence and scariness: A father-son argument reaches near-yelling levels.
  • sex false1 Sexy stuff: Mild flirting, lots of handholding, and one sweet kiss. A fair number of scenes with shirtless high school boys.
  • language false1 Language: "Butt" is about as salty as it gets.
  • consumerism false3 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.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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2.0

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High School Musical 3: Senior Year Movie Ratings + Reviews

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