What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHigh School Musical
Kenny Ortega · Film · 2006
If you loved High School Musical, start with High School Musical 2 (Kenny Ortega, 2007) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to High School Musical across media.
If you loved the way High School Musical turned teenage social hierarchies into high-stakes drama, you will adore these stories.
Start with the source
Adaptation
High School Musical 2
Kenny Ortega · Film · 2007
Books on the same thread
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
J. K. Rowling · Book · 1997
Explores: Good vs. Evil, Orphanhood, Friendship.
Much like the characters in High School Musical, this story focuses on a young outsider finding where they belong while navigating the pressures of a complex social environment.
The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald · Book · 2004
Explores: American Dream, Social Class, Love and Loss.
While more tragic than High School Musical, this tale centers on the same intense longing to recapture a lost sweetheart and the social obstacles that stand in the way.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee · Book · 1970
Explores: Racial Injustice, Childhood Innocence, Moral Courage.
This classic shares the coming-of-age spirit found in High School Musical, focusing on the moral courage required to stand up for what is right despite social pressure.
The Outsiders
S. E. Hinton · Book · 1967
Explores: Social Class, Teenage Angst, Violence.
The divide between social cliques that defines the central tension in High School Musical is explored with gritty realism here as teens struggle against their assigned labels.
Series on the same thread
Freaks and Geeks
Paul Feig · Series · 1999
Shares a thread with High School Musical: First Love.
You will recognize the familiar high school angst of High School Musical in this show as characters navigate their shifting identities and the desire to break stereotypes.
Friday Night Lights
Brian Grazer · Series · 2006
Explores: Coming-of-age, Community, Pressure.
This series captures the same small-town intensity and community ambition found in High School Musical, where the stakes of student life feel as significant as any championship game.
Heartstopper
Alice Oseman · Series · 2022
Shares 2 threads with High School Musical: First Love, Acceptance.
The tender exploration of first love and self-discovery in this series mirrors the emotional heart of High School Musical, focusing on authentic connections that blossom during school years.
One Tree Hill
Mark Schwahn · Series · 2003
Explores: Brotherhood, Rivalry, Absentee Father.
The tension between different social classes seen in High School Musical is central to this drama, where personal rivalries and brotherhood define the experience of the main characters.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
If the focus on friendship in High School Musical resonated with you, this podcast offers a similar sense of community and support through its conversational and personal storytelling.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
The Ringer · Podcast · 2026
Explores: banter, insider access, celebrity culture.
The camaraderie of High School Musical is reflected in the banter and male friendship found here, providing an inside look at culture that feels like a shared experience.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch High School Musical in?
You should start with the original 2006 High School Musical directed by Kenny Ortega. After finishing that film, you can continue the story by watching the 2007 sequel, High School Musical 2, which follows the same group of students.
Is High School Musical 2 a direct continuation of the first movie?
Yes, High School Musical 2 is the sequel to the 2006 film High School Musical. It builds upon the events of the first movie where the athlete and the academically gifted girl challenged the social order of East High.
Who directed the original High School Musical?
The 2006 movie High School Musical was directed by Kenny Ortega. He established the story of the high school athlete and the academically gifted girl whose involvement in the school musical disrupts the social dynamic at East High.
How long after High School Musical was the sequel released?
High School Musical 2 was released in 2007, one year after the original High School Musical premiered in 2006. Both films focus on the characters established in the first movie as they navigate their lives at East High.