Zac Efron has been a Hollywood star since he was young, and as his career has progressed, he’s shown an aptitude for emotionally connecting with audiences across a variety of genres. Most audiences still associate Efron with his early work in the Disney Channel original movie, High School Musical, and its sequels. Though he’s been in plenty of movie musicals since then, Efron has also worked in genres from animation and serious dramas to slapstick comedy. While not every film he’s been in has been award-winning or critically acclaimed, they all offer something unique for the viewer to enjoy.
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It will be interesting to see how Zac Efron’s upcoming movie ranks in his filmography, as the actor has been in some truly great films. In recent years, he’s started working with amazing writers and directors who push him to explore new facets of himself as an actor and grapple with intense subject matter. Making the transition from young Hollywood heart-throb to dramatic actor isn’t easy, but Efron has proven himself capable of handling this change. Efron makes it natural to see him as a lovable goofball in comedic roles and a serious prestige performer portraying emotionally complex characters.
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10
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile (2019)
As Ted Bundy
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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
r
CrimeDrama
Release Date
January 26, 2019
Runtime
110 Minutes
Director
Joe Berlinger
Writers
Zac Efron
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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile isn’t an easy movie to watch, and Efron’s portrayal of the real serial killer Ted Bundy is chilling. Taking on such an intense role was a new challenge for Efron, who had to immerse himself in the violence and depravity of the man he was bringing to life. Lily Collins plays opposite Efron’s Bundy as Liz Kendall, the young woman who was romantically involved with Bundy before he was arrested. Much of the story unfolds from Liz’s perspective as she struggles to reconcile the evil inside of Ted.
The film received mixed reviews, but Efron’s performance was frequently highlighted as the best part of the project.
The film received mixed reviews, but Efron’s performance was frequently highlighted as the best part of the project. It’s difficult to tell such a violent and fraught story without glorifying the killer or being disrespectful to the victim’s families. Though Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile isn’t perfect, it’s unique among many similar films, as it doesn’t overly rely on violence and grotesque imagery. Instead, the movie allows Efron’s work to shine as the narrative’s centerpiece.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) |
54% |
57% |
9
The Paperboy (2012)
As Jack Jansen
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The Paperboy
R
ThrillerMysteryCrimeDrama
Release Date
October 5, 2012
Runtime
107 minutes
Director
Lee Daniels
Writers
Lee Daniels, Peter Dexter
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The Paperboy was a surprisingly serious turn for Efron in 2012, embroiling him in a crime thriller full of lies, secrets, and betrayal. Based on the novel of the same name, The Paperboy explores the story of Ward (Matthew McConaughey), a reporter who attempts to clear the name of a death row inmate. One of the best parts of The Paperboy is Nicole Kidman’s entrancing performance as Charlotte, the femme fatale who uses the investigators to ensure the man goes free.
Efron plays Jack, Ward’s younger brother, who joins Ward and his friend Yardley (David Oyelowo) in their quest to find the truth while getting caught up in Charlotte’s lies. Though Kidman and Efron would later reunite in the Netflix rom-com A Family Affair, their chemistry was first established in The Paperboy. While there are many unfocused elements of The Paperboy, it displayed a new side of Efron that he would later tap into in projects like The Iron Claw.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Paperboy (2012) |
46% |
33% |
8
That Awkward Moment (2014)
As Jason
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That Awkward Moment
pg-13
ComedyRomance
Release Date
January 31, 2014
Runtime
94minutes
Director
Tom Gormican
Writers
Tom Gormican
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Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan join Efron in That Awkward Moment, a story about a group of three friends who make a deal to stay single after Mikey’s (Jordan) wife leaves him. Though That Awkward Moment is of its time, the three main characters are undeniably charming, and Efron has great chemistry with his love interest Ellie (Imogen Poots). That Awkward Moment might not break out of the formulas of the rom-com genre, but its script has some witty moments.
Grappling with the importance of both love and friendship in life, That Awkward Moment is a sweet addition to Efron’s career.
This was an interesting step for Efron, as at this point in his career, he was still trying to figure out who he was outside of Disney and as a romantic leading man. In That Awkward Moment, he makes it clear that he’s able to balance the demands of an imperfect character while managing to make him likable by the end of the story. Grappling with the importance of both love and friendship in life, That Awkward Moment is a sweet addition to Efron’s career.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
That Awkward Moment (2014) |
23% |
46% |
7
The Greatest Showman (2017)
As Phillip Carlyle
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The Greatest Showman
PG
Musical
Release Date
December 20, 2017
Runtime
1h 45m
Director
Michael Gracey
Writers
Jenny Bicks, Michael Arndt, Bill Condon
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Efron joins Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman as the second-in-command, Phillip, to Jackman’s P.T. Barnum. Loosely based on the true story of the real Barnum and the Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Greatest Showman is a fantastical exploration of the origin story of an iconic spectacle. Also starring Zendaya as Anne, Efron’s love interest, The Greatest Showman boasts an all-star cast that instantly appeals to the audience. Despite this, Efron still stands out as Philliip, the emotionally grounded foil to Barnum’s wildest dreams.
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Zac Efron has starred in some incredible musicals, from the High School Musical franchise to The Greatest Showman, but some are better than others.
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The Greatest Showman might not have received warm critical acclaim, but it was an enormous hit at the box office, earning $434,993,183 worldwide against a budget of $84,000,000 (via Box Office Mojo). Many of the original songs composed for The Greatest Showman became sensations and helped revive the movie musical genre in the contemporary era. Since Efron has such strong roots in musical performances, he was a natural choice for The Greatest Showman.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Greatest Showman (2017) |
56% |
86% |
6
The Lorax (2012)
As Ted Wiggins
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The Lorax
PG
AnimationFamilyComedyFantasyMusical
Release Date
March 2, 2012
Runtime
86 Minutes
Director
Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda
Writers
Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio
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Based on Dr. Seuss’ beloved children’s book of the same name, The Lorax tells a classic tale of the dangers of greed and the importance of finding balance with the environment. Efron voices the young Ted, a resident of Thneedville, a town without real trees in which a company sells bottled air. Ted slowly learns how the world came to be this way through the story of the Once-ler and the Lorax. With gorgeous visuals that do justice to the original design of Seuss’ books, The Lorax is a stylistically cohesive film.
As Ted, Efron is the point of view character for the audience and is eventually spurred to action to stop the evil corporation and bring trees back to the world.
As Ted, Efron is the point of view character for the audience and is eventually spurred to action to stop the evil corporation and bring trees back to the world. In the same way that Ted is moved by the Once-ler’s tale, the viewer is meant to be impacted by Ted’s story. Audiences walk away from The Lorax with a renewed sense of care for the environment. Though Efron hasn’t lent his voice to many other animated projects, The Lorax was a great choice and highlighted his singing abilities.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Lorax (2012) |
53% |
63% |
5
Neighbors (2014)
As Teddy Sanders
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Neighbors
R
Comedy
Release Date
May 9, 2014
Runtime
97 Minutes
Director
Nicholas Stoller
Writers
Brendan O’Brien, Andrew J. Cohen
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One of the raunchier additions to Efron’s filmography, Neighbors is a comedy starring Efron, Seth Rogen, and Rose Byrne as a group of neighbors intent on destroying each other. It’s a funny premise and is only made better by the performances of the lead cast. Byrne and Rogen are a young couple whose lives are turned upside down when a rowdy fraternity moves in next door. Efron’s character, Teddy, is the president of the frat and takes it upon himself to get revenge on the couple when they try to shut him down.
Though Efron isn’t at his most likable as Teddy, the escalating grudge match between him, Rogen, and Byrne makes for many hilarious pranks and confrontations. Neighbors helped audiences begin to see Efron as an adult and accept him in more risqué roles following his departure from Disney. As far as early 2010s comedies go, Neighbors is well-crafted and memorable, making the most of its strong cast and inherently compelling premise.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Neighbors (2014) |
72% |
63% |
4
High School Musical (2006)
As Troy Bolton
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High School Musical
TV-G
ComedyDramaFamily
Release Date
January 20, 2006
Runtime
98 Minutes
Director
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Kenny Ortega
Writers
Peter Barsocchini
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The movie that started it all, High School Musical, will always have a place among Efron’s best films, if only because of what it did for his career. However, even though High School Musical is the reason Efron became a star, it’s also a fun and engaging film that holds up well today. Telling a timeless tale of star-crossed lovers from different worlds, High School Musical is an engaging exploration of the pressures of adolescence. Though Efron didn’t do his own singing in High School Musical, he later proved the strength of his musical abilities in the sequels.
From the well-choreographed dance numbers to the iconic songs, there’s a reason why High School Musical expanded into a beloved franchise.
As one of Disney Channel’s best original movies, High School Musical is reminiscent of the golden age of Disney Channel and is a uniquely nostalgic part of Efron’s career. Returning to this project after several decades and seeing him as a budding star in the early part of his career is sentimental, and it helps that High School Musical is still so easy to watch. From the well-choreographed dance numbers to the iconic songs, there’s a reason why High School Musical expanded into a beloved franchise.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
High School Musical (2006) |
67% |
74% |
3
17 Again (2009)
As Mike O’Donnell
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17 Again
PG-13
ComedyDramaFantasyRomance
Release Date
March 11, 2009
Runtime
105 Minutes
Director
Burr Steers
Writers
Jason Filardi
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The rom-com with a fantasy twist, 17 Again, asks the viewer what they would do if they could go back in time and restart their life. Efron’s character, Mike, gets the answer to this question as the older version of himself, played by Matthew Perry, gets sent back into the body of his younger self, played by Efron. Though Mike had been dissatisfied with the way his life turned out and taking his wife and family for granted, he realized just how much he needed them when he was transported back to high school.
Efron has the tough job of playing an older character trapped in a young man’s body, but he manages to make this contradiction very believable. Though there are some goofy moments in 17 Again, and the film didn’t receive overwhelming critical acclaim, it was a major step for Efron in taking on more serious adult roles, even within a comedy. Efron’s performance is the element that takes 17 Again from a typical teen comedy and elevates it to an early-2000s classic.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
17 Again (2009) |
57% |
67% |
2
Hairspray (2007)
As Link Larkin
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Hairspray
PG
ComedyFamilyMusicalRomance
Release Date
July 19, 2007
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Adam Shankman
Writers
Leslie Dixon, John Waters, Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan
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Not long after Efron had his breakout performance in High School Musical, he starred in the screen adaptation of the stage musical Hairspray, based on the 1988 film by John Waters. As Link Larkin, Efron embodies the classic 1960s heart-throb who wins the heart of every young woman who sees him but is looking for something more. His relationship with Tracy, the protagonist, is a significant story element. However, Efron’s singing and dancing in the musical numbers set him apart in the cast.
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12 Best Movie Musicals Of The 21st Century
Movie musicals might have peaked in Hollywood’s Golden Age, but the 21st Century has had a resurgence that combines the best of film and musicals.
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One of the biggest takeaways from watching Efron in Hairspray is how funny the actor is. His comedic timing comes through in every aspect of the story. While the ensemble cast is full of hilarious actors like John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer, Efron easily holds his own and helps to anchor the emotional core of Hairspray. Though it’s a satirical story, there are some serious and important themes in Hairspray, leaving the viewer with the message that everyone should be true to themselves.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Hairspray (2007) |
92% |
84% |
1
The Iron Claw (2023)
As Kevin Von Erich
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The Iron Claw
R
BiographySportsDrama
Release Date
December 22, 2023
Runtime
132 minutes
Director
Sean Durkin
Writers
Sean Durkin
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The devastating performance Efron gives in The Iron Claw has paved the way for a new era of his career. Audiences and critics instantly recognized how much of himself Efron gave to bringing Kevin Von Erich to life in the tragic true story of the iconic wrestling family. Though creative liberties were taken with the real events, the heart of the story is deeply emotionally truthful as Kevin navigates unimaginable loss and life-changing grief over the course of the narrative.
Watching Efron navigate this grueling and demanding performance with so much empathy and depth has been an indicator that the actor is ready to take the next step in his career. Though each Von Erich brother is vital to the story, Kevin is the centerpiece, as he weathers both the intense pressures of fame and professional wrestling and the demands of his family. Watching Zac Efron in The Iron Claw feels like the culmination of years of development as an actor. While it can be difficult to witness the tragedy of the project, it’s an incredible film.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Iron Claw (2023) |
89% |
94% |
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Category: Entertainment