10. High School Musical
Za Efron starred in this as Troy Bolton, a popular basketball player. He co-star Gabriella Montez, was the talented transfer student. Despite opposition from their friends and family, they decide to audition for the school play, causing a revolution at East High School. The first two films in the series were released on Disney Channel, while the third one hit theaters and was a box-office success, earning positive reviews. The films were directed by Kenny Ortega.
9. 17 Again
In the 2009 teen comedy “17 Again,” Zac Efron portrays a high school student, Mike O’Donnell, who is passionate about basketball. Directed by Burr Steers, the film also stars Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Sterling Knight. The plot follows Mike, a 37-year-old man whose life lacks excitement. He has just been served divorce papers by his wife, is estranged from his teenage children, and lacks the motivation to pursue any personal goals.
8. Hairspray
Efron starred as Link Larkin in this 2007 musical comedy film “Hairspray,”. The movie was directed by Adam Shankman, and is based on the Broadway show of the same name. The cast is led by Nikki Blonsky, who made her acting debut as Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenager with a dream of dancing on her favorite TV show, The Corny Collins Show. Tracy gets the opportunity of a lifetime when the show announces auditions, despite her mother Edna’s strong opposition to her daughter exposing herself on TV in such a way.
7. The Lucky One
In the 2012 romance movie, The Lucky One, Efron plays Logan Thibault. The movies is based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name.
Thibault, a US marine serving in Iraq stumbles upon a photo. He gets back home and embarks on a journey to find the woman in the picture and, despite all odds, manages to do so.
6. Me and Orson Welles
The 2008 period drama film “Me and Orson Welles” is directed by Richard Linklater and follows Richard Samuels (starring Zac Efron), a high school student and aspiring actor who, while on a trip to New York City in 1937, is offered a life-changing opportunity by Orson Welles. Richard is cast in Welles’ stage adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” but as he navigates the world of the arts, he discovers it’s not quite what it seems. Additionally, he grapples with his feelings for Sonja Jones, the show’s production assistant. The film is based on the novel by Robert Kaplow and stars Zac Efron alongside Christian McKay, Claire Danes, Ben Chaplin, and Zoe Kazan.
5. Neighbors
In 2014, Nicholas Stoller directed the comedy film Neighbors, which stars Seth Rogen and Efron. The plot centers around Mac Radner, who, along with his wife and daughter, enjoys a peaceful family life until the Delta Psi Beta fraternity moves in next door. They aim to throw wild parties and make a name for themselves, leading to a rivalry between Mac and Teddy Sanders, the fraternity’s president.
The film also features Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Its success led to the release of a sequel in 2016 titled Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, which saw the return of several cast members.
4. The Disaster Artist
James Franco directed and starred in the 2017 comedy-drama film, The Disaster Artist, which is based on the book of the same name by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell. The movie explores the friendship between Sestero and Tommy Wiseau, two aspiring actors who team up to make The Room, a film that would later become infamous as one of the worst movies ever made.
In addition to the Franco brothers, the film boasts a talented cast including Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, and Josh Hutcherson. Efron makes a brief appearance as Dan Janjigian, who played Chris-R in The Room. The Disaster Artist received critical acclaim and numerous nominations and awards for its screenplay and the performances of its cast.
3. That Awkward Moment
Efron starred as Jason in this 2014 comedy that follows the lives of three best friends (Jason, Daniel and Mickey) living in New York City.
The other two, Jason and Daniel are commitment-phobes, constantly jumping from one relationship to the next, while Mickey is navigating a recent divorce. In an effort to cheer Mickey up, Jason and Daniel vow to stay single and party together. However, their plans are thrown into disarray when they meet three incredible women that night – Imogen Poots, Mackenzie Davis, and Jessica Lucas – and find themselves falling head over heels in love.
2. The Greatest Showman
Michael Gracey directed The Greatest Showman, a 2017 film that serves as his directorial debut, and is based on the life of the famous showman P. T. Barnum, who founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Hugh Jackman, Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and Zendaya lead the cast, with Jackman portraying P.T. Barnum, who finds himself jobless and in a difficult situation. To overcome this setback, he decides to create a circus show that features diverse performers, which quickly becomes a popular sensation.
The film was well-received by critics and audiences alike, grossing $435 million worldwide. Efron plays Phillip Carlyle, a playwright from high society who joins forces with Barnum to create a successful circus. Along the way, Barnum faces a number of obstacles that test his resolve and potentially jeopardize his family’s well-being.
1. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
In one of the masterpieces films to ever act on, Efron stars as the late US serial killer Ted Bundy.
The movies is based on the memoir by Bundy’s girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall.
The production, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, directed by Joe Berlinger, chronicles Bundy’s story and crimes, as well as his eventual prosecution, the trial and his time in prison before his execution.
Although this film was met with mixed reviews, Efron’s performance was widely acclaimed.