© 2026 The Couch Critic
The High School Musical film series chronicles two high school students, Troy Bolton, captain of East High School’s basketball team (Wildcats) and Gabriella Montez, a shy top student. Both of them try out for the lead roles in their school's musical and quickly fall in love in the process, despite the lack of support from the rest of their classmates, one of them being Sharpay Evans and her brother sidekick Ryan Evans. The film also focuses on Chad Danforth, Troy's best friend and Taylor McKessie, Gabriella's best friend who fall in love, too.
A popular high school athlete and an academically gifted girl get roles in the school musical and develop a friendship that threatens East High's social order.
The East High Wildcats are gearing up for big fun as they land the coolest summer jobs imaginable. Troy, Gabriella, Chad, and Taylor have scored sweet gigs at the Lava Springs Country Club owned by Sharpay and Ryan's family. Sharpay's first rule of business: Get Troy. As Troy experiences a life of privilege he's never known, will he give up the Wildcats and Gabriella to rise to the top?
As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.