Zac Efron [1] has become so much more than "that guy from High School Musical [2]," and the selection of his movies that are available on Netflix are proof of what he can do! Beyond the expected teen comedy and leading man roles, Efron has also ventured into much quirkier movies, animation [3], and even one dark and twisty crime drama [4]. With a few new projects in the pipeline, including a Stephen King horror remake and a biopic of an eccentric tech entrepreneur, let's first take a look back at some of his career highlights so far — you can catch these four movies (plus one show) right now on Netflix!
17 Again
Right at the height of Efron's teen-king fame in 2009, he starred in 17 Again as Mike, a 37-year-old (played by Matthew Perry [5]) who becomes his 17-year-old self again through a magical accident. Suddenly turned into his teenage self but stuck in his current era, Mike poses as his adult best friend's son to enroll in high school and try to figure out how he got turned into a teenager and, more importantly, how to undo it. During his time as a teenager, though, he starts to learn more about his estranged wife and their teenage children, leading him to figure out the problems in their life that he hadn't been able to see before.
Watch 17 Again on Netflix [6].
The Disaster Artist
Efron has a supporting role in The Disaster Artist, a 2017 biographical comedy about the making of the infamous movie The Room. He plays Dan Janjigian, an actor who co-stars in The Room, playing the drug dealer Chris-R. Efron is just one part of a star-studded cast: his co-stars include James France, Seth Rogen [7], Dave Franco, Alison Brie [8], Jackie Weaver, Josh Hutcherson, and more. The dark comedy was part of a turning point in Efron's career, as he moved away from the standard nice-guy hero roles and into more comedy and oddball roles.
Watch The Disaster Artist on Netflix [9].
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax
Based on the famous Dr. Seuss book, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax tells the story of Ted, a twelve-year-old boy who seeks out the Once-ler, a being who remembers the world when there were trees and who tells Ted the story of his encounter with the Lorax. Efron voices Ted, in a voice cast that also includes Danny Devito, Ed Helms, Taylor Swift [10], and more. It was Efron's first-ever voice role; he didn't do another animated movie again until 2020's Scoob!
Watch Dr. Seuss' The Lorax on Netflix [11].
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile
Efron's most shocking role to date is definitely as infamous serial killer Ted Bundy in the biopic drama Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. The crime drama, which Efron also executive produced, follows Bundy through the lens of his relationship with Elizabeth Kendall, his girlfriend at the time of his crime spree's beginnings. It's a gleefully dark departure for Efron, who gets portray a much different kind of charm than his usual leading-man roles.
Watch Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile [12] on Netflix.
Down to Earth with Zac Efron
Stepping away from the leading-man movie roles, Efron's original Netflix series has him playing no role, just himself. In the reality docuseries, Efron travels around the world, along with wellness expert Darin Olien, to learn more about healthy and sustainable ways of living. Along the way, he also shines a spotlight on the communities already practicing these ways of life. It's a different avenue for Efron, but no less intriguing.
Watch Down to Earth with Zac Efron on Netflix [13].