Movies

5 Most Striking Zac Efron Roles If You Think The Iron Claw Was a Blinder

5 Most Striking Zac Efron Roles If You Think The Iron Claw Was a Blinder
Image credit: Freestyle Releasing, Sundance Institute, Madman Entertainment, Legion-Media

These are the movies you should see after probably the best role in the actor's career.

On December 22, the sports drama The Iron Claw was released in theaters, telling the story of the Von Erich dynasty, which went down in the history of professional wrestling not only with loud victories, but also with terrible tragedies.

One of the sons of Kevin Von Erich, the head of the family, was played by Zac Efron, and it is already being called one of the best, if not the best role in his career.

We remind you which movies with Efron you need to see before the actor is likely to skyrocket to the top of Hollywood.

1. Me and Orson Welles, 2008

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Although Richard Linklater's drama did not become popular, it managed to resonate with those who saw it. Me and Orson Welles tells about New York teenager Richard (played by Zac Efron), who dreams of becoming an actor. One day he meets Orson Welles, who is preparing the Broadway production.

The indie film was praised by critics and viewers for the strong performance of Zac Efron and compelling story.

2. The Greatest Showman, 2017

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The Greatest Showman was Zac Efron's second movie in the musical genre, but Michael Gracey's work is still hard to compare to High School Musical: the scale of the production, the complexity of the plot and the songs are completely different.

The Greatest Showman was the first time Zac really got to show off his vocal potential. And despite the fact that Efron is overshadowed by Hugh Jackman for most of the movie, his role in this film carries its own significant weight.

3. The Beach Bum, 2019

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The Beach Bum entered the late stage of Efron's acting career, as the actor was clearly tired of being a romantic hero. The main character of the movie is a poet Moondog – an alcoholic, drug addict and womanizer who always gets into trouble. He is unable to write the magnum opus of his life, but keeps dreaming about it.

Efron plays Flicker, a crazy pyromaniac whom Moondog meets during a psychotherapeutic rehabilitation course. Together, Flicker and Moondog escape the clinic and spend a wild night in Miami, only to part ways at dawn. Efron's role, while not the lead one, is hilarious and shows off the actor's comedic chops.

4. Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, 2019

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In this biographical thriller, Zac changes his romantic hero image for the first time – he gets the role of Ted Bundy, a maniac who killed women in the 1970s. The movie uses the actor's good looks as a cover for Bundy's psychopathic personality – he's been called the most charming serial killer for a reason.

The movie takes place in Seattle from 1969 to 1989. Single mother Liz begins dating law student Ted, a handsome and seemingly good man who quickly takes on the role of stepfather to her daughter.

5. Gold, 2022

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One of the most recent movies starring Zac Efron takes place in the distant future when humanity is faced with the problem of limited resources. People find themselves in a bloody struggle for food, oil, and gold. The main characters are two friends who accidentally stumble upon a precious find – gold deposits in the desert. One of them goes after the transport, while the other stays behind to guard the gold.

The main intrigue and suspense of the movie rests on Efron's shoulders. His character spends four days in a desert, tormented by thirst and terrible hallucinations. Zac Efron brilliantly portrays a desperate man clinging to life with his last ounce of strength.