Sky High Release Date: July 29th, 2005 (USA) MPAA Rating: PG Michael's Role: Will Stronghold Also Starring: Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Danielle Panabaker Directed by: Mike Mitchell Produced by: Andrew Gunn, Ann Marie Sanderlin, Mario Iscovich Screenplay by: Paul Hernandez, Mark McCorkle, Robert Schooley Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy and Kids/Family Running Time: 1 hr. 42 min. Distributors: Walt Disney Pictures U.S. Box Office: $63,939,454

View All Images

It all begins at a secret school in the clouds like none on earth: Sky High, the first and only high school for kids with super-human powers going through crime-fighting puberty. At Sky High, the student body throw flames with their footballs, study Villainy with their Chemistry and are divided into "Heroes" and "Sidekicks" instead of jocks and geeks. It's an out-of-this-world yet completely recognizable place where cool gadgetry, rampant bravery and awe-inspiring magical skills mix it up with parental battles, peer pressure and dating trouble--with explosively fun results. This year's class features some of the best, brightest and most powerfully gifted super-teens ever assembled. And then there's Will Stronghold. When you're the son of the world's most legendary super heroes, The Commander and Jetstream, people expect you to live up to the family name The problem is that Will is starting with no superpowers of his own and, worst of all, instead of joining the ranks of the "Hero" class, he finds himself relegated to being a "Sidekick." Now he must somehow survive his freshman year while dealing with an overbearing gym coach, a bully with super speed and a dangerous rebel with a grudge (and the ability to shoot fire from his hands)--not to mention the usual angst, parental expectations and girl problems that accompany teenage life. But when an evil villain threatens his family, friends and the very sanctity of Sky High, Will must use his newfound superpowers to save the day and prove himself a "Hero" worthy of the family tradition.

A freshman at Sky High. His parents are the two most famous superheroes of the day and there is a lot of pressure on him to live up to their legacy. It is not revealed that he has superpowers (superhuman strength and the ability to fly - a combination of his parets' superpowers) until later on in the movie. Initially categorized as a "sidekick" at school, he grows into his true abilities and becomes the superhero he was always meant to be.

Exterior shots of the Sky High school were filmed at the Oviatt Library at California State University in Northridge.

The film utilizes extensive action and special effects, including green screen and wire work.

The film was nominated for a 2006 Young Artist Award in the category of Best Family Feature Film - Comedy or Musical.

The film was considered as a potential franchise for Disney, with all the young actors signing contracts binding them to sequels and a television series on The Disney Channel.

“The idea of SKY HIGH fulfills every kid's dream, and my dream too, to be a super hero What kid didn't grow up with the fantasy of being able to fly across the whole country or being super strong and being able to toss a building? At Sky High, it all comes true.”

“What's really interesting about Sky High is that it's pretty much a typical American high school of today except that every kid has these different amazing powers. It has its cool kids and its nerds, its “Heroes” and its “Sidekicks” - which is why I think it's a story a lot of people will relate to. But then it's also got a lot of comedy and it's completely action-packed, so not all the situations are entirely normal!”

“For me, one of the best parts of the film was simply getting to put on a harness and fly through the air. That part is the dream come true.”

"This is, indeed, another teen flick, a spotty, stodgily directed, though occasionally clever one, with several cardboard performances."

-- Wesley Morris | The Boston Globe (Full Review)

"Smartly written and sprightly played, Sky High satisfies with a clever commingling of spoofy superheroics, school-daze hijinks, and family friendly coming-of-age dramedy."

-- Joe Leydon | Variety (Full Review)

"High schoolers (who are shown chugging only soda pop at a supposedly rowdy party) will rule this movie lame, though early grade-schoolers might bite."

-- Kyle Smith | New York Post (Full Review)

"Director Mike Mitchell deftly blends two genres -- the high school romance and the special-effects-laden superhero comic book adaptation -- and manages to spoof yet salute both with a refreshing lack of pretension."

-- Jane Horwitz | Washington Post (Full Review)