High School Musical 20 Years Later... Does It Still Hold Up?

🎵 Season 3 of Friends of Disney begins by heading back to East High!

Twenty years after High School Musical became a Disney Channel phenomenon, we're revisiting Troy, Gabriella, Sharpay, Ryan and the Wildcats to answer one big question:

Does High School Musical actually still hold up 20 years later?

Some parts have aged surprisingly well. Others... maybe not so much.

We revisit the songs, characters and unforgettable moments from the original Disney Channel movie while looking at how High School Musical portrayed high school cliques, teenage romance, gender expectations, musical theater and the pressure to “Stick to the Status Quo.”

Along the way, we debate our favorite songs, whether Troy and Gabriella's romance was ever realistic, why East High is filled with some TERRIBLE friends, the brilliance of “Stick to the Status Quo,” Sharpay and Ryan, and how High School Musical helped change Disney Channel forever.

Plus, somehow Taylor McKessie becomes Megan's mortal enemy.

🏀 Does High School Musical still hold up 20 years later?

Let us know in the comments — and subscribe as we continue our High School Musical retrospective with High School Musical 2!