10 Amazing 2014 Performances That Changed Your Mind About Actors You Hate

9. Zac Efron - Neighbors

If Jake Gyllenhall is unfairly seen as a Hollywood pretty-boy by some, Zac Efron is still derided in some circles because of his appearance in Disney's High School Musical series. To a lot of people Efron is just some shirtless tween idol. Since the High School Musical series wrapped, Efron has been spreading his wings and showing his acting chops with a series of decent, yet sadly under-the-radar, performances. He gave celebrated performances in Richard Linklater's Me And Orson Welles and Lee Daniels' supremely underrated The Paperboy, but both films did poor business at the box-office. Efron's reputation as a lip-synching highschooler persisted but in 2014 he finally had a hit that showcased a different side of the actor. Starring alongside Seth Rogen in the comedy film Neighbors Efron was finally allowed to be funny and imprive. Zac kept up with comedy veteran Rogen and he was responsible for some of the biggest laughs of the film. Robert De Niro party, anyone? A lot of attention was placed on the scenes where Efron took his top off, yes, but he was sending up his own image in the film and critics and audiences appreciated his talents in a whole new way.