High School Musical (2006)

There was no bigger Disney film than High School Musical. One could argue that if this film hadn't been a huge success, Disney Channel movies would have faded into obscurity. Instead, this film about a high school basketball prodigy and a shy transfer student auditioning for their school's musical was the Disney event to end all Disney events.

High School Musical starred some of the biggest stars of the time, including Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, and Zac Efron in all his helmet hair glory. High School Musical would go on to become the most successful DCOM film of all time, with 7.7 million viewers when it debuted and spawning two sequels, one of which would be released in theaters (High School Musical 3: Senior Year), grossing more than $250 million at the box office in 2008. A High School Musical Disney+ show now has three seasons.

Detailed information:

Directed by: Kenny Ortega
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale

Original release: January 20, 2006

Running time: 98 minutes