- Zac Efron is an actor primarily known for his work in ensemble comedies, musicals, and romantic dramas.
- "Hairspray" (2007) and "The Disaster Artist" (2017) currently stand as his highest-rated movies on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Some of Efron's worst-rated films are New Year's Eve" (2011) and "Dirty Grandpa" (2016).
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Zac Efron has been a big name in Hollywood ever since he got his start in 2006's "High School Musical."
Although he is mostly known for his work in comedies, Efron has dabbled in a variety of genres, from romantic dramas to frightening mystery films based on real-life people and events. However, not all of his films have been critical hits.
Here is every movie Zac Efron has been in, ranked by critic scores on Rotten Tomatoes.
Note: All scores were current on the date of publication and are subject to change.
Efron's lowest-scoring film is "New Year's Eve" (2011), in which he played Paul.
Synopsis: In the ensemble romantic comedy "New Year's Eve," Efron joined a star-studded cast that included Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, and many others.
Efron had a small role as Paul, a deliveryman who's tasked with helping Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) complete her New Year's resolutions before midnight.
In the raunchy comedy "Dirty Grandpa" (2016), he played Jason Kelly.
Synopsis: In the R-rated comedy "Dirty Grandpa" Efron played straight-laced Jason Kelly, a young businessman who's tricked into taking his grandfather Dick (Robert De Niro) to spring break in Florida days before his own wedding.
Efron was Matt Brody in the remake of "Baywatch" (2017).
Synopsis: Efron plays young recruit Matt Brody in "Baywatch," a film that follows a group of beautiful, if ego-driven, lifeguards as they work together to protect their beach from insidious criminals.
Efron starred opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the action-comedy.
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In "The Lucky One" (2012), he starred opposite Taylor Schilling.
Synopsis: In the romantic drama "The Lucky One," Efron portrayed Sergeant Logan Thibault, a marine veteran home from active duty.
Logan returns to the US in search of Beth (Taylor Schilling), a woman whose picture kept him going during his tour in Iraq.
Efron played Jason in the romantic comedy "That Awkward Moment" (2014).
Synopsis: In the comedy "That Awkward Moment," Efron starred alongside Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan as three best friends who grapple with how to best approach the awkward "define the relationship" moment with their respective crushes.
He was the titular Charlie in "Charlie St. Cloud" (2010).
Synopsis: Based on the novel of the same name, the drama "Charlie St. Cloud" traces the upbringing of ambitious sailor Charlie (Efron) as he deals with a horrific family tragedy.
With his bright future clouded by grief, an old classmate attempts to set Charlie on the right path again.
Efron played Dave Stangle in the comedy "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates" (2016).
Synopsis: Notorious partiers Dave (Efron) and his brother Mike (Adam Devine) attempt to find wedding dates to their sister's destination wedding by putting an ad out online.
Their plans to impress their parents quickly get dismantled by opportunistic best friends Alice (Anna Kendrick) and Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza).
The actor played Cole Carter in "We Are Your Friends" (2015).
Synopsis: In the drama "We Are Your Friends," Efron played aspiring DJ Cole Carter, an electronic-music lover who finds a mentor in older DJ James (Wes Bentley).
Things grow complicated when Cole starts to fall for James' girlfriend, which puts his career in jeopardy.
In "The Paperboy" (2012), Efron played Jack Jansen.
Synopsis: Set in South Florida during the 1960s, "The Paperboy" is a drama that follows investigative reporters Ward (Matthew McConaughey) and Yardley (David Oyelowo) as they chase down a story.
Efron had a supporting role in the film as Ward's younger brother Jack Jansen.
Efron was Jim Carrico in "Parkland" (2013).
Synopsis: The drama "Parkland," is a retelling of the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Efron portrayed Dr. Charles "Jim" Carrico, the first doctor to examine Kennedy after he was shot.
In "At Any Price" (2013), Efron played Dean Wheeler.
Synopsis: Ambitious farmer Henry Whipple (Dennis Quaid) plans to pass his family business onto his son Dean (Efron), but Dean would rather be a professional race-car driver.
Despite their differences, Dean and Henry come together when the future of their family company is threatened.
He voiced Ted in Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" (2012).
Synopsis: In the adaptation of the classic children's book "The Lorax," Efron voiced Ted Wiggins, a young boy who leaves his artificial town of Thneedville behind in search of a real, living tree.
His journey leads him to learn about the myth of the Lorax, an old forest guardian.
In "The Greatest Showman" (2017), the actor was Phillip Carlyle.
Synopsis:"The Greatest Showman" is an imaginative musical based on the origin story of entertainer P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman).
In the film, Efron played Phillip Carlyle, a playwright who falls in love with trapeze artist Anne Wheeler (Zendaya).
Read More: Every single Zendaya movie, ranked
Efron played the infamous Ted Bundy in "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" (2019).
Synopsis: In the dramatic thriller "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," Efron portrayed Ted Bundy, an infamous serial killer.
In the film, Lily Collins played his long-time girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, who realizes that she has to side with Ted or face the truth.
Read More: Here's what the cast of 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' looks like in real life
Efron played a de-aged Matthew Perry in "17 Again" (2009).
Synopsis: Dissatisfied with his adult life, Mike O'Donnell (Matthew Perry) wishes he could get a second chance at being a better husband and father.
Suddenly, Mike wakes up as his 17-year-old self (played by Efron) with a chance to relive the glory days of high school.
In "The Beach Bum" (2019), the actor was a wild card named Flicker.
Synopsis: In the comedy "The Beach Bum," Matthew McConaughey starred as Moondog, a washed-up writer dealing with addiction and a general displeasure for responsibility.
Efron had a supporting role in the film as Flicker, a deviant who helps Moondog break out of a rehab facility.
Efron played Teddy Sanders in "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" (2016).
Synopsis: In the sequel to the comedy "Neighbors," Efron returned as former fraternity brother Teddy Sanders.
At first, Teddy helps a group of young women set up a sorority in his old fraternity house, but finds himself siding against them when he's pushed out by the girls.
The actor got his big break playing Troy Bolton in "High School Musical" (2006).
Synopsis: In "High School Musical," Efron starred as Troy Bolton, a teen torn between wanting to play basketball and wanting to try out for the high-school musical with his new crush Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens).
But before he can audition for the musical he has to first get through ambitious theater student Sharpay Evans (Ashley Tisdale).
In "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" (2008), Efron reprised his role as Troy Bolton one last time.
Synopsis: Before they graduate from their senior year, Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) have to decide if they will keep dating as they're pulled in two different directions for college.
As they map out their future, Troy and Gabriella help their classmates stage one last musical.
He had a small role as Nat in "Liberal Arts" (2012).
Synopsis: In the comedic drama "Liberal Arts," Josh Radnor played Jesse Fisher, a college-admissions officer who is disillusioned with his life.
When an opportunity brings Jesse back to his old college, he finds himself falling for young student (Elizabeth Olsen).
Efron had a small role in the film as eccentric college student Nat.
He first played Teddy Sanders in "Neighbors" (2014).
Synopsis: In the first "Neighbors" movie, Efron played Teddy Sanders, a party-loving college student who starts a fraternity next door to Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne).
The new neighbors battle the fraternity for peace and quiet for the sake of their newborn.
The actor returned as Troy Bolton in "High School Musical 2" (2007).
Synopsis: In the sequel to "High School Musical," Efron returned as Troy Bolton, an athletic high-school student with musical aspirations.
Set in the summertime, "High School Musical 2" follows Troy and his friends as they get jobs working at Sharpay's family-owned country club.
Read More: The worst movies every actor from 'High School Musical' has been in
Efron played Richard Samuels in "Me and Orson Welles" (2009).
Synopsis: In "Me and Orson Welles," Efron starred as Richard Samuels, a young actor who finds himself thrown into a New York production of "Julius Caesar" helmed by prolific director Orson Welles.
Richard attempts to navigate a working relationship with Welles as he falls for Sonja Jones (Claire Danes).
In "The Disaster Artist" (2017), he had a minor part as an actor named Dan.
Synopsis: Based on the hectic production of the famously awful film "The Room," this movie follows Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) as they set out to make their dream film and concoct something else entirely.
In "The Disaster Artist," Efron had a small role as an actor named Dan, who in turn plays a character named Chris R.
In his highest-rated film, "Hairspray" (2007), Efron played Link Larkin.
Synopsis: The musical "Hairspray" centers around bright-eyed Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) and her dream to appear on the hit television program "The Corny Collins Show."
But when an audition lands Tracy among her idols, she realizes that Corny Collins is stuck in the past with its promotion of racial segregation.
Efron starred opposite Blonsky as TV heart-throb Link Larkin.
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