High School Musical 3: Senior Year | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | Kenny Ortega |
Produced by |
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Written by | Peter Barsocchini |
Based on | Characters by Peter Barsocchini |
Starring | |
Music by | David Lawrence |
Cinematography | Daniel Aranyò |
Edited by | Lauren Flaum |
Production
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Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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111 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $11 million |
Box office | $274.3 million |
High School Musical 3: Senior Year is a 2008 American musical film and is the third installment in the High School Musical trilogy. Produced and released on October 24, 2008, by Walt Disney Pictures, the film is a sequel to Disney Channel Original Movie 2006 television film High School Musical. It was the only film in the series to be released theatrically. Kenny Ortega returned as director and choreographer, as did all six primary actors.
The sequel follows the main six high school seniors: Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan, Chad, and Taylor as they are faced with the challenging prospect of being separated after graduating from high school. Joined by the rest of their East High Wildcat classmates, they stage an elaborate spring musical reflecting their experiences, hopes, and fears about the future.
The film received mixed to positive reviews, relatively better than the first installment of the series, and, in its first three days of release, Senior Year grossed $50 million in North America and an additional $40 million overseas, setting a new record for the largest opening weekend for a musical film.
It was followed up by a spin-off, starring Ashley Tisdale. Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure was released direct-to-DVD on April 19, 2011, and premiered on Disney Channel on May 22, 2011.
A sequel was confirmed in February 2016, the fourth film will take place a couple of years later.
The movie begins with the Wildcats trailing the West High Knights, with the Wildcats entering the locker room for the final quarter feeling bitter. Team captain Troy rallies the team's spirit ("Now or Never") and, thanks to new transfer Jimmie "Rocket-man" Zara, the Wildcats win the championship game which is the last one for the seniors on the squad at East High. Later, at Troy's after-match party at his house, Troy and Gabriella are seen thinking about their future and wishing that their last few months at East High would not end ("Right Here, Right Now").