High School Musical 3 scored the biggest opening ever for a musical. Sky’s the limit, as the Disney musical rocked and rolled its way to a number 1 finish at the box office this weekend; beating a strong Saw V and a weak Pride and Glory — along the way.

more photos after the waltz

Disney’s television transplant earned $42 million, according to Sunday’s estimates, giving it the best premiere ever for a movie musical — by a mile. The previous champ in this category, Mamma Mia!, banked $27.8 mil on its first weekend a few months ago, and last year’s Hairspray opened with $27.5 mil. 

HSM3 also boasted the top opening of all time for a live-action G-rated movie, passing the $31.1 mil that Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert brought in earlier this year as reports by EW.

Coincidentally, Zac Efron is also in Hairspray! 

I promised to give you my review of the movie which I couldn’t wait to see. At a time like this, grim economy, election running in full gear, it’s nothing better than having a good escape. Less than 2 hours of clean escape, no booze, no whining just feeling upbeat looking at those fresh and wholesome young cast performing.  It’s clean, wholesome and upbeat. I think this is as good as it gets at a time like this. Yeah, I sound like sh#t like everyone else. But I am very forward thinking. Next week, we have a new start, a new President of the United States and a brand new hope. Heck, as long as the stock market goes up and the economy picks up as far as I’m concerned I don’t care if you became the president.

Zac Efron rocks and so does the rest of the HSM 3 cast! Go see the movie, you’ll feel better.