The Queen is dead! Long live the King! Zac Efron has just killed Miley Cyrus! At the box office, I mean. Efron's 17 Again, a comedy devoid of comedy and originality (hello, Big!), hit No. 1 this weekend with a hefty take of $24 million. Zac zapped Miley's climb with Hannah Montana: The Movie, which tumbled 61 percent in its second weekend with $12 million and a fourth place finish. No smiles for Smiley Miley. Allow me to note that State of Play, a savvy political thriller which was predicted to tank on its debut, scored 2nd place with a respectable $14 million. Dare I hope for the future? Nah. I know it's a freak thing.
Back to Zac, the actor I mean. Even critics who puked all over the movie (that would be me, and I'm not alone) harbor a belief that Zac can act. I base my judgement on Hairspray and Richard Linklater's Me and Orson Welles, a still unreleased film in which Efron does his best work to date as a teen who comes up against the giant ego of Citizen Welles. Recently, on SNL, I also saw a deeper comic side to Efron than he's been able to reveal in High School Musical 1, 2, 3 and infinity. The skit about his graduated HSM character, Troy Bolton, returning to school to report on a cruel world that doesn't burst into song, was truly inspired. So today's question is: Can Zac Efron cut it as a star over the long haul (that means you can imagine him playing roles outside the box) or is he a tween dream getting close to his expiration date?
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John | October 30, 2009 7:25 PM
Zac has proved he is a star. Doing as much business overseas as domestically for a first film is impressive. We expected that for Miley, but people weren't sure about Zac.
I've posted before on Mr. Travers lameness as a movie reviewer, so I'm not surprised to find he has a juvenile attitude towards Miley. Zac may be a star, but Miley is a SUPERSTAR!!!
Emma | May 31, 2009 3:48 PM
This movie is absoully fabbby.
ilove zac efron:)
im only on this web page tho cause im doing a talk on this amaziing movie xxx
P.S iloveuzaccy
uzy | May 4, 2009 7:40 AM
zacs the best
Pat | April 23, 2009 10:13 PM
Although he appears to be cut from the same Disney brand cloth as little Miley, Vanessa, and the Jo Bros, you might be surprised to learn that Zac Efron has been acting since he was eleven in theatre as well as television series, is a member of a prestigious acting academy, and graduated high school with a 4.3 grade point average. All that aside, I really enjoyed his performance on SNL, from his ability to hold the audience for just a moment longer during his monologue, to his sharp and witty delivery of his comedy lines. If you think that he looks the part, hold on- unlike most of hollywood's Grahams, Johanssons, and Afflecks, he can actually act it, too.
Anna | April 22, 2009 4:57 PM
Miley still did better.
Miley had a better opening weekend.
lilly | April 22, 2009 2:55 PM
i love miley i wish she was aboy
rpriley01 | April 21, 2009 9:42 PM
way to stick it to miley
Bryan | April 21, 2009 4:54 PM
I'm gonna laugh so hard when 2 or 3 months from time Miley Cyrus shows up to some red carpet event is pregnant, and all those ppl who thought she was a good, wholesome, christian, disney girl are able to see who she really is!!! Oh, Zac will most likely always be type-casted
anna | April 21, 2009 4:32 PM
I agree zac can act and that's good for him this movie didn't have him singing every 15 minutes wich is cool too but he could act he is going places not only he is a good actor but he has good looks too. I think that he is fine
lillian | April 21, 2009 3:50 PM
I agree with Lilly completely. (At first, I thought that I had commented already, but that was a different Lilly.) I also think that he showed great talent in Miracle Run. He had all of the hand gestures and body language down pat. I wish that more people would see that movie, not just to see Zac, but to learn about autism. He was also wonderful in Hairspray. He'll do well with Charlie St. Cloud. I'm very excited for him.
Mr. Wallingford | April 21, 2009 3:27 PM
Looks like the world may be recovering from the Miley Virus. Just don't tell folks where the Docs had to put the thermometer.
radio zero | April 21, 2009 3:25 PM
now i say something....
ZAC LOVER | April 21, 2009 3:13 PM
i totally agree with LILLY he can act and they aint seen nothing yet!
ZAC LOVER! | April 21, 2009 2:53 PM
i think everybody is over reacting because ZAC can act and i agree with AELY he should dumb vanessa.but for me.
lilly | April 21, 2009 2:30 PM
17 again is a harmless and fun comedy. It is funny, because every time I have seen it, 4 so far, everyone in the theatre has laughed. People, ie critics, need to stop being so clever and just thinking they are better than everything. 17 made good at the box office, and the cast were brilliant. It's a good family movie, nothing more nothing less. And besides, he filmed this before HSM3, so it doesn't really count as a new movie in terms of where he is at with his learning and growth.
Besides anyone who has read an article with Zac in the past 6 months will know that this kid is no fool, he has the drive and the determination to go far. He is a game changer, and people who underestimate him will only look foolish in the long term. Zac proved he has an imense amount of talent in Miracle Run when he was 14. Just because HSM gave him a foot in the door does not mean he is stuck with that forever. His fans know this, and the change is already afoot. Especially with Charlie St Cloud and MAOW. He is so driven and so focussed, he will make it, because that coupled with talent, and his screen presence is a leathal combination. Again, don't underestimate him, because you ain't seen nothing yet.
thevm | April 21, 2009 2:15 PM
It's not uncommon for box office revenues to drop 50% or more from week one to week two, even for successful films. What IS uncommon is for a world-wide phenom like Hannah Montana to bring in only twelve million dollars in week two. Peter is right; Zac DID kill Hannah. After all, when the moms and dads of America have so much less disposable income these days, it was bound to catch up to the usually bullet-proof tween market.
As for you Cyrus/Effron defenders out there, please don't pretend that you are going to give a shit about these two people 18 months from now when the next shiny new pop culture phenoms arrive. Stars like these aren't a scrapbook, they are toilet paper. You don't cherish them for life; you use them up and move on to the next one.
danny | April 21, 2009 11:58 AM
Ok, miley debuted at 1 with 32 million, but if the movie were as solid as you guys below say, she would still be 1, not 4 and even more dropping 61% in box office,face it guys, she's just a teen sensation, she will fade away, Zac on the other hand probably has more acting skills than miley, he could have a decent career. Get a grip guys, miley can't sing, her voice is really flat, and she can't act, at least not in a decent grown up level
Bugs Bunny | April 21, 2009 11:29 AM
I am suspicious of the sudden outpouring of support for Miley Cyrus in these comments; I would estimate about 99% of Mr. Travers' readers would never take up Miley's cause. Disney must be getting awfully desperate to legitimize its assets...
mileyyyfann | April 21, 2009 10:00 AM
okay hannah montana made 34 its first weekend so it was expected that 17 again would have more money because hm has been out longer. but hm's first weekend beat 17 again's first weekend. you just have to see how much more each movie gets then compare. cause for all you know that will be the only money 17 again will get and hm will contiune to be watched. im just saying. i am a zac efron fan and i went to the movie and liked it but im a bigger miley fan!!
ruexprnced420 | April 21, 2009 9:47 AM
Hey Pete,
Why is it a triumph when this movie made 24 million in it's first week and when the Watchmen made twice as much in it's first week it was considered a flop ? I think it's a little of a double standard. Not a bitch as I usually agree with your column. Just an observation.
christine | April 21, 2009 2:38 AM
Art,
twilight? uhh...no thanks. although the movie did amazingly well, it was epic fail. none of the actors in there could act, if not for the screaming fangirls, i wouldvd fallen asleep. so please, spare zac. lord of the rings, well, thats more like it. but twilight, thats a big no no.
booggit | April 20, 2009 11:05 PM
If Zac and his agents are smart, they will seek out roles (possibly in "smaller" films) which allow him to stretch and grow as an actor. Take, for example, Joseph Gordon-Levitt - here is a guy who is rapidly becoming one of the best actors out there. And that is because yes, he had the talent, but also he took on tougher, more in-depth roles that allowed him to grow. It is only a matter of time before he becomes a massive star alongside the Johnny Depps of the world. If Zac Efron would like to have a long lasting career, he may want to give Joseph Gordon-Levitt a phone call!
believer | April 20, 2009 10:05 PM
i think the kids got chops
the next tom cruise for sure
hopefully he doesnt F&%! it up like him though
Zac Can Act | April 20, 2009 9:57 PM
didn't see the movie, but I think he has chops. however, if he wants to prove he can go the distance he will need to take some roles that push him and show his talent off. now that we know he can open a movie, he needs to show he has versatility
Dee | April 20, 2009 9:51 PM
Opening weekend Miley 32 mil
Opening weekend Zac 24 mil
Your opening sentence sucks.
AELY | April 20, 2009 8:14 PM
UR so HOT zack if only i could have one night with you ... ahhhh im in love ... dump vanessa for me
loma | April 20, 2009 8:14 PM
This article is completely flawed. Zac's movie didn't kill Miley's! Miley's did way better in its first weekend. Sorry your article is biased.
totallydude | April 20, 2009 7:10 PM
I agree with Matt. He has to take a chance and possibly make a dark and/or funny indie film a la Requiem for a Dream
------ | April 20, 2009 7:07 PM
Miley's movie made $32 million in 1 weekend.
Art | April 20, 2009 6:12 PM
Peter,
You have a good point here. I know I may have not always seen eye to eye with your reviews...I totally agree with you.
He needs to take the Ben Affleck...Matt Damon...Heath Ledger or do something with a franchise like Twilight...Harry Potter...Lord of the Rings esque type of thing.
He will soon be forgotten. Looks will only get you so far.
matt09m | April 20, 2009 6:09 PM
it all depends on the career moves. If Efron decides to capitalize on his tween appeal, it will be a short lived, but lucrative bunch of shitty movies. However, if Efron goes the route of actual actor (which his SNL self-parodying indicates) then we may very well see a respectable actor emerge in him yet.