Think about the main reason why fans typically love Zac Efron. A quick review of his film career probably proves it, but there does seem to be one overarching feature: his looks.
Yes, Efron is talented, and that's clearly why he keeps being cast in Hollywood. But a lot of people love him for the way he looks, and it's clear why they do.
From his handsome face to his often washboard abs (he does change up his body for various roles), fans can list a lot of reasons why they like Zac's looks.
One thing people don't often comment on, though, is his height.
In fact, most people don't notice much about Zac's height, because they're distracted by... well, the rest of him. So how tall is Zac, and why do fans think he's actually shorter than he appears on film?
What Does Zac Efron Think About His Height And His Body?
Though Zac has seemingly admitted to struggling with his body image, it's been evident for a long time that he's seen as an absolute beefcake by most of his fan following.
He's well-known for having a fit physique, as unrealistic as it might have been at times. In fact, maintaining his rock-hard bod was a demanding task, so much so that Efron admitted that he had no plans to get that shredded again.
Regardless, that trying time revealed something to fans about Zac: he really cares about his body. Realizing that it took a physical and mental toll on him to get hyped for some roles, Zac resolved to skip those opportunities in the future.
There are some things that Zac can't control about his looks, though, including his height. Interestingly, his stature is one of the least-discussed things about Zac, and he doesn't seem to have any concerns over his height.
How Tall Is Zac Efron?
Because he's on-screen so much, it's sometimes hard for fans to distinguish how tall Zac is (or isn't). Unless they were standing directly beside him, it's really impossible to tell.
Although, his appearance alongside ex-girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens helps make his relative height clearer; Hudgens is 5'1".
But most sources agree that Zac Efron is about 5'8", and at that height, there's probably not any reason for Zac to refute the measurement. After all, he's not apt to joke about his appearance the way some celebrities do based on perceived physical shortcomings.
Is Zac Efron Considered Short?
In general, 5'8" is a decent height for a man; it's just under the average height for a male in the US, at least. If the "average" guy is 5 foot 9, Zac isn't really considered short.
In Hollywood terms, though, Zac Efron might be a little on the shorter side, on average.
He's definitely taller than celebs like Kevin Hart and Tom Cruise, but he's reportedly on the same level as fellow celebs Mark Wahlberg, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, Simon Cowell, and even Kanye West.
And, a lot of female celebrities will tower over Efron, too; ladies like Serena Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Roberts, Bella Hadid, Taylor Swift, Mandy Moore, and Gisele Bundchen are all at least an inch or more taller than Zac.
The thing is, Zac Efron doesn't always appear of "average" height in his movies. And fans want to know what gives!
Why Does Zac Efron Look So Tall?
One inquisitive fan realized that in a photo promo for 'Baywatch,' Zac Efron was standing alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson... And looked about the same height as the actor, with maybe two or three inches between them at most.
Obviously, Dwayne Johnson is physically much bigger and taller than Zac -- the former wrestler is a staggering 6'5". Fans began picking apart the images and presented some theories to explain just how this optical illusion happened.
One fan suggested "camera angle tactics," while another pointed out that Zac's hair gave him a little bit of a boost. They also suggested (hopefully jokingly?) that Dwayne is "old already" and might be slightly shorter than his formerly reported six-foot-five height.
Some Redditors, possibly a bit confused about both actors' actual heights, argued back and forth about perception of height differences even when two people are standing next to each other.
And another commenter pointed out a very logical explanation for why Zac looks taller than he really is: his proportions.
Yes, Zac Efron works out, because it's part of his job. But the commenter noted that he's really not a good representation of what someone of about average height looks like.
That Redditor noted that Zac "has the body proportions" of someone a few inches taller, which messes with viewers' brains a bit.
Fans do admit that it could also be that Zac's a bit closer to the camera than Dwayne in the images, which is a standard Hollywood trick for getting someone to look just the right height or size.