Why “High School Musical” Was a Success
And why it still is today.
Disney hit the jackpot in 2006.
On Jan. 20 of that year, a Disney Channel Original Movie premiered called “High School Musical.” Nothing has been the same since.
It told the story of a basketball jock (Zac Efron) who finds himself auditioning for the upcoming school musical with brainiac (Vanessa Hudgens). All the while, theatre students Sharpay and Ryan (Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel) and fellow basketball player and brainiac (Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman) try to foil the plan.
What Disney thought would be a nice little movie musical transformed into a massive franchise soon later. It was unbelievable.
It soon brought merchandise, a world tour and an everlasting fan base. Critics said the cast at the time was as “big as the Beatles.”
But one question remains.
Why Does It Resonate Still Today?
Because of one important thing.
The story.
The film showcased students breaking out of their shells and trying something new, discovering who they are and what they want to do. That’s what high school is all about anyway.
