Has Robert Pattinson Derailed Zac Efron's Career?

By Rob Shuter Posted Aug 9th 2010 11:31AM

With Zac Efron's latest film, the romance 'Charlie St. Cloud,' now an official box office disaster, everyone is asking what happened to the 'High School Musical' golden goose. The answer, two words: Robert Pattinson.

"Robert is the new King of all the screaming girls at this moment and they have forgotten Zac. You only need to look at this years MTV Movie Awards, when Zac entered the girls were excited but when Robert walked in the place went nuts," relationship expert Matt Titus tells me. "Twilight has changed everything and Robert Pattison gets it. He says nothing, and acts mysteriously. This is what teenage girls really want right now."

However, it seems that Zac has received that memo too. Switching from his more playful roles to ones that focus on his character rather than his pretty-boy looks have come at a huge box office cost.

"Hollywood only cares about making money," one producer tells me. "We honestly don't care if Zac is singing 'Hello Dolly' or playing a vampire, as long as he sells tickets. That fact that 'Charlie St. Cloud' dropped a whopping 60% in its second week following a very mediocre opening tells me Zac should speak less, smile more and take off as much clothing as possible. Or else he will end up like countless other pinup popcorn actors and actresses that decided that they all of a sudden wanted to be taken seriously when all their fans."

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Zac Efron Snapshots

Zac Efron signs autographs outside the 'Jimmy Kimmel' show on July 28. Check out more pics of the hunk >>

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Zac Efron Snapshots

In this publicity image released by Allied Integrated Marketing, actor Zac Efron signs autographs for fans as he promotes his new film "Charlie St. Cloud" at the Dan Perez Baseball Camp at Murphey Candler Baseball Park on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Allied Integrated Marketing, Pouya Dianat)

Zac Efron Snapshots

In this publicity image released by Allied Integrated Marketing, fans gather to meet actor Zac Efron as he promotes his new film "Charlie St. Cloud" at the Dan Perez Baseball Camp at Murphey Candler Baseball Park on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Allied Integrated Marketing, Pouya Dianat)

Zac Efron Snapshots

In this publicity image released by Allied Integrated Marketing, actor Zac Efron prepares to throw the ball as Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, left, looks on during an appearance by Efron to promote his new film "Charlie St. Cloud" at the Dan Perez Baseball Camp at Murphey Candler Baseball Park on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Allied Integrated Marketing, Pouya Dianat)

Zac Efron Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 27: Zac Efron attends a game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June on June 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zac Efron

Zac Efron Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 27: Demi Moore (L) and Zac Efron attend a game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June on June 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Demi Moore;Zac Efron

Zac Efron Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 27: (2nd L-2nd R) Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher and Zac Efron attend a game between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June on June 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Demi Moore;Ashton Kutcher;Zac Efron

Zac Efron Snapshots

WAILEA, HI - JUNE 18: Actor Justin Chambers, director Andrew Goodman and actor Zac Efron attend the premiere of "The Happiest Man Alive" during the 2010 Maui Film Festival at the Celestial Cinema on June 18, 2010 in Wailea, Hawaii. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Maui Film Festival) *** Local Caption *** Justin Chambers;Zac Efron;Andrew Goodman

Zac Efron Snapshots

According to Box Office Mojo, 'Charlie' has raked in a mere $23 million since opening July 30. It's budget: $44 mil.

Joe Neumaier, film critic for the New York Daily News, thinks Patz isn't Zac's biggest problem, telling me, "I blame an overcrowded pin-up boy field. Yes, Rob Pattinson is in that jam-packed yearbook but so is Taylor Lautner, some 'Gossip Girl' boys, Shia LaBeouf, the 'Glee' guys and at least one Jonas brother. All these young dudes are now starting to cancel each other out. I think at this point, there's only so many dewy-eyed sulking guys girls can keep track of."

PopEater's own Celebenomics columnist, Jo Piazza, agrees. "Efron is in an oversaturated market for adorably coiffed young gentlemen of a certain age with nothing to differentiate him. He isn't as edgy as Robert Pattinson, as heartthrobby as Chace Crawford or as cutesy as Bieber. His claim to fame, 'High School Musical' was too quickly eclipsed by 'Glee.' There is no demand out there right now for a product that is specifically Efron."

So is Zac career really over at a tender 22-years of age? Please say this isn't true!!!

"I don't think Zac Efron has a career problem. I just think that he made a movie that didn't connect with an audience. This film didn't have mass appeal and was a departure from Efron's normal roles. His audience didn't follow. He needs to choose his next role wisely, but he absolutely still has a career," Tina Wells, Author of tween book series Mackenzie Blue & CEO, Buzz Marketing Group told me.

So, let's hope Zac is listening because it sounds like it's time to dust of those tap shoes, break out the Jazz hands and start warming up those vocal chords. Stop trying to be Robert Pattinson and start being yourself again.

"Zac needs to stick with his strengths," Paul Dergarabedian, President of Box-office Division of Hollywood.com says. "Singing, dancing and comedy." And leave the depressing stuff to Mr. Pattinson.

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Tags: robert pattinson, zac efron

Comments

(40)

Monday 09 August

By JP

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I think Zack has more all around talent and appeal. Robert is good, but I think he is just a flavor of the month due to the pop culture franchise (Twilight) and the vampire craze. Just my opinion.

Tuesday 10 August

By Cynthia Muryn

I agree. Zach is hotter. He's a good guy, too. Stuck around after shooting takes until two am to make sure everyone got their autogragh-thanks, Zack...
Cindy M.
Sechelt, Sunshine Coast, B.C.

By Sandra

How is it Zach fault that he got sucked into a bad movie with a bad script? That doesn't mean that he fell off due to Robert Pattison. Zach is a great looking guy and he is a good actor. He just has to make better choices in movie scripts. This article is unfair and a little ridiculous. If Robert was in this movie it would've still bombed.
The previews looked boring.

Wednesday 11 August

By charli

Exactly, Rob has NADA to do with it. Zac took a serious role that wouldn't appeal to his younger fans and wasn't a good enough film to get the reviews that would make older fans (who see him as a Disney kid and nothing else) go see it. It doesn't mean that his career is over. He has to keep going and picking the roles he wants and if they are good roles etc it will happen.

I mean hell, a lot of folks are bashing Rob as just a 'disneylike' money maker and won't even go see his non Twilight stuff cause they abhor the vamp stuff so much. And he's also a good actor. Not a Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp but he's got more skill than shows with Edward

By Terri

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BIG HOOPLA IS OVER Robert. I think Zac has much more sex appeal. Robert is a good actor but I don't think he's handsome at all, just venting.

By eqe

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

they both have no talet and are both totally forgetable.

By tina

People see movies for the story not the actor, Zac is the boy nxt door shorter and look like a school kid while Rob has a more mature look and playing with much older stars and I love his choices. Hollywood cares about money. They don;t care about good film.

By patty

Rob is not flavor of the month stupid Zac is!

Zac Efron needs to do that Flashdance remake he rejected. Julianne Hough will be great in it (a star is born) and people will want to see it. He is arguably the only young male with star power who could pull off that role and it will be great for his career, propelling him forward, not backward, as he had been thinking. If he wants to go all serious, he needs to find better dramatic material while mixing it up with lighter fare. May the Force be with you, Zacky!

By Aitch

It was a remake of Footloose. Chace Crawford also dropped out after Zac turned it down.

Yes Yes! uhuh...-I'm not the only one who calls him Zachy...
those dance/sing/ act numbers are alot of work. they should (actors ie h.s. musical)getas much recognition for their multi-talent workas actors who receive oscars for just acting.
Cindy
Sunshine Coast, B.C.

By clauette neely

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Zac is the greatest. What is wrong with people? My husband & I went to see C S C. The movie was good & Zac's performance was wonderful. My husband said he would see the movie again & we are both 65 years old. don't ever change anything about yourself Zac. You are a great actor.

kudos-you guys rock!
Cindy
Sunshine Coast BC

By mw

Zac is gorgeous, Robert is not good looking at all, don't see the madness about Robert.

By Kara

I'm confused about how Rob is derailing Zac's career when they both released similar movies this year and Zac's sold more tix?

By judy

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

zac efron is soooooooooo much better than robert and everybody know that robert is a big fat lair

By Frida.

The Zac's film is worse and more expensive cost (more than double) to
be done.

By Roblover

Yummmm Rob is the cats meow... LOL Zac is a sext dude but there is something about Rob that makes the girls want to rip his clothes off.. I like them both but I totally think Rob is the BEST... LOVE LOVE LOVE HIM

By joan

To me Robert Pattinson has no appeal at all. He was lucky in getting the Twlight series, which I think is very overrated. The book is much better a by far superior to what they did with the films versions. Zac Efron may not have chosen the best scripts, but he I think will be around a lot longer than Mr. Pattinson as he is very versatile and can do more than be a vampire.... Zac is better looking too!

By Satine

I disagree, I like Zac Efron, but Robert can transcend to different periods of time and place and he can change his voice as well. There is even a montage on YouTube of Robert using a different voice for each of his movies. With that you do all sorts of movies. I am not certain Zac can do that, however, I do believe they will both have long careers. They will just be in different type of movies.

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