The Transformation Of Zac Efron From High School Musical To Now

Despite that hiccup, he was soon back on-screen, often playing young adult roles in comedies with varying amounts of success. 

For example, Efron took on the roles of an happily unmarried bachelor in "That Awkward Moment" and fraternity president Teddy Sanders in "Neighbors" in 2014. There are some rather famous shirtless scenes in "Neighbors," but it's uncertain what role Efron's bare upper bod played in the success of the movie, which Rolling Stone described as "the highest-grossing live-action film of Seth Rogen's career." The story involves a fraternity led by Teddy, which moves in next door to Rogen's character, Mac, and his wife (Rose Byrne), who have a new baby. A call to the cops during a party leads to all-out war between the neighbors. 

Efron followed that up with roles in several comedies in which he played similar hard-partying characters, such as two "Neighbors" sequels and "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates." His role in "We Are Your Friends" from 2015 is a bit more serious, allowing him to become a DJ in a coming-of-age drama, but it's a similar general idea. All this was part of Efron's growth process, though, as he eventually reached A-list mainstream status a few years later.