We Ranked All of Zac Efron’s Movies. You’re Welcome.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

As a fan who has grown up alongside Zac Efron, I must say his journey in Hollywood is nothing short of extraordinary. From the heartthrob Link Larkin in Hairspray to the pitch-perfect artist in The Greatest Showman, Efron has truly come a long way since his High School Musical days.


The time has come to celebrate the patron saint of abs: Zac Efron.

Oh boy, here I go again! You know who’s birthday we’re celebrating on October 18th? Our beloved millennial crush, Zac Efron! It means two things for us dedicated fans:

Which tune should I select? Certainly, you have a variety of melodious moments at your disposal, such as ‘Hairspray’ or ‘The Greatest Showman’.

Maybe you might prefer “High School Musical 3” or “17 Again,” movies that showcase his physical abilities. However, his comedic skills truly shine in “Neighbors” and “Dirty Grandpa.” Diversity, indeed, is the hallmark of Zachary David Alexander Efron!

Trying to decide which Efron movie is the best sparked a conversation that incited a friendly yet fierce debate in the TopMob News offices. The takes were hotter than the man himself without his shirt on, which, you know, we’ve featured just maybe once or twice on our Instagram account. (You’re welcome, by the way.)

As a devoted admirer, I found myself in a prudent position, much like any sensible individual with a retirement fund. Consequently, I chose to prioritize and assess each of his cinematic masterpieces.

To clarify, he personally considers his latest project, the romantic comedy from June titled “A Family Affair“, as one of his favorite filmmaking experiences.

“I got to play, like, the worst version of somebody experiencing fame and sort of the fear and the imposter syndrome that comes with that,” he told Vanity Fair of portraying a movie star who hooks up with the mom (Nicole Kidman) of his personal assistant (Joey King).

He mentioned that on one side, he remains utterly amazed each time he interacts with Kidman during their film scenes. This feeling has persisted over time, and he continues to be in constant admiration of her. In a way, he’ll always be in a state of awe of her. He also expressed a deep trust and respect for her that makes working together enjoyable.

Just as we took up the challenge of scrutinizing Efron’s cinematic works to select the standout pieces, so it was. Admittedly, it wasn’t a walk in the park, but duty called and here we are! Presenting our official list, ranking every movie starring Efron, starting from the least favorite up to the top pick.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Sorry for reminding you that this 2015 movie about Efron as a DJ exists!

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

For this 2012 movie, a fitting subtitle might be “The One Where Nicole Kidman Has a Moment with Zac Efron.” After all, who wouldn’t want such an eventful encounter if it’s with an Academy Award-winning actress!

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

It’s currently unclear which relative of Robert De Niro persuaded him to take part in the 2016 comedy, presumably for a chance to work with Zac Efron.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Much like many of our past New Year’s Eve gatherings, this one was rather lackluster; however, the captivating narrative between Efron and Michelle Pfeiffer made it stand out amidst this seemingly sleepy cast.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Although this movie is a modern take on the 1984 horror classic, it was a long-awaited moment for many older millennials, who had fantasized about Zac Efron as a father since they used to draw “Mrs. Efron” in their school notebooks. Regrettably, seeing this dream realized did not result in a well-made film.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Despite our hopes for a captivating romantic journey given the frequent shirtless scenes and the storyline’s emphasis on them, this 2017 summer movie turned out to be less engaging than anticipated, more like a disappointing sigh rather than a fun-filled romp. However, those well-toned abs will forever remain memorable in our minds.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

One method to attract younger audiences to watch a festival film about the director of “Citizen Kane,” who is now portrayed by Efron, could be by casting him as the lead character. Unfortunately, the 2008 drama didn’t generate much revenue with just $2.3 million, but it did boost Efron’s independent film reputation following his Disney years.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Praise was given to Zac Efron’s dedicated portrayal in the gritty, action-packed dystopian movie, however, it unfortunately didn’t resonate with viewers as expected. A word of caution: Our protagonist meets an unfortunate end, being devoured by a pack of vicious dogs. That’s tough to watch.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

In an almost true-to-life tale from 2022 that seems hard to believe, a character portrayed by the ’60s version of Efron sports a stylish mustache and takes on the role of a Merchant Mariner. This character travels globally to ship American beers to his friends engaged in combat in Vietnam. While it may seem far-fetched, Efron manages to win over viewers with his charm.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Originally, we declined attending the unmemorable 2016 comedy event. However, we find ourselves occasionally enjoying unexpected visits there.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Since Michael B. Jordan, Miles Teller, and Zac Efron were part of the cast, we had high expectations for this 2014 comedy. However, it turned out to be rather mediocre, serving as a starting point for a series of ‘bro-ish’ roles for the lead actor following his acclaimed performance in Neighbors. At least it was the least unimpressive of that group of films?

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

In 2024, I had the pleasure of watching a comedy that, unfortunately, didn’t receive the recognition it deserved. This film was a fun ride, and not just because it featured a heartwarming love story for our lead character! John Cena truly shone in this movie, taking center stage as the main actor. Zac Efron delivered an impressive supporting performance that added depth to the overall narrative.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

In the 2024 Netflix romantic comedy, Efron adopts a self-mocking role, satirizing himself. The plot revolves around a movie star who develops an unexpected relationship with his assistant’s mother. Although his on-screen chemistry with Kidman appears contrived, he and Joey King share a lively dynamic as celebrity and assistant.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Among all the actions we took out of affection for him, this rather peculiar 2010 incident stands out as one of the most unusual events we’ve encountered!

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

In the year 2012, the creative forces of Efron and Nicholas Sparks combined for a romantic drama, which we watched in the cinema. However, our recollection of the movie’s plot is a bit hazy. One scene that stands out vividly in our memory, though, is the shower scene – it left quite an impression on us.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Our man, who also served as an executive producer, delivered a very good, very charming, very creepy performance as the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. But overall, this 2019 Netflix drama failed to make as much of an impact as we thought it would when the project was first announced and feels a little too Lifetime movie-of-the-week. 

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

In 2014, Efron received a significant boost in his career due to the comedy film, where Seth Rogen played a role. As the president of a fraternity, Efron showcased his overlooked comedic talents, charm, and well-toned physique, stealing most of the scenes he was featured in. His performance in the 2016 sequel was equally impressive and impactful.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

In his debut film after his sensational triumph with “High School Musical”, Efron assumed another singing character in the 2007 remake of “Hairspray”. He portrayed the role of teen idol Link Larkin, and his signature Link wink remains etched in our memories.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Following a ten-year absence from movie musicals, Efron made an impressive comeback in 2017’s “The Greatest Showman”. If you want to experience a life-changing moment, simply jump to 3:43 in “The Greatest Show” from the soundtrack. That’s when Efron takes over lead vocals from Hugh Jackman on the song. Moreover, his chemistry with Zendaya is truly remarkable – it’s the best ‘showmance’!

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

At our funeral, don’t hesitate to cue up the part where the flawlessly cast Efron (portraying a younger version of Matthew Perry’s character) reads the letter to Scarlett, played by Leslie Mann, in that 2009 romantic comedy.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

In the final analysis, Efron didn’t secure the anticipated Oscar nomination, but he was undeniably captivating in the 2023 drama that presented the actual, tragic tale of the Von Erich family and their endeavor to establish their professional wrestling dynasty. Even amidst a stellar cast, his raw portrayal of Kevin Von Erich stands out significantly beyond just his physical transformation, demonstrating the extent to which his acting abilities are undervalued.

We Ranked All of Zac Efron's Movies. You're Welcome.

Before you yell louder than Sharpay Evans after discovering she landed a supporting role, the first two installments technically qualify as TV movies, so only 2006’s HSM 3 made our list. But oh, what a performance it is from Efron in his final outing as Troy Bolton, the role that made him the gold-standard of millennial heartthrobs. 

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2024-10-18 10:18