The point of High School Musical is to show that it is possible for people from different backgrounds to come together and find common ground. The film also celebrates the power of music and dance to bring people together. The film's message is that it is important to be true to yourself and to follow your dreams, no matter what obstacles you may face.
High School Musical was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $252 million worldwide against a production budget of $4 million. The film spawned two sequels, High School Musical 2 (2007) and High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008). The film also led to the creation of a spin-off television series, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, which premiered on Disney+ in 2019.