Zac Efron Getting Incredible Praise In The Iron Claw

Zac Efron stars in The Iron Claw alongside Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson as the Von Erich brothers, three real-life wrestlers who followed in the footsteps of their father, Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany). Fritz was a notable villain, aka heel, in the wrestling circuit, and his three boys take on the family business, though their journey is a rollercoaster of unforeseen tragedies. Maura Tierney has also been getting praise for her performance as the Von Erich family matriarch, Doris Von Erich.

Zac Efron stars as Kevin Von Erich, with White playing Kerry Von Erich and Dickinson playing David Von Erich. The early The Iron Claw critic reviews are praising the performances all around, so there isn’t really a weak link in the bunch. The production company, A24, has had a fantastic year of releases and should see plenty of its films nominated for Oscars, including this one.

As far as Zac Efron’s Oscar chances for The Iron Claw, this film certainly has the recipe that Oscar voters tend to favor. Efron has fully shed his typical heartthrob role to take on a grueling physical transformation while also diving into the poignancy of a real-life tragic figure.

Efron and Jeremy Allen White have been getting particular attention for the extreme measures they took to bulk up for the roles and achieve the body types of the Von Erich family. In interviews, they were candid about how taxing the amount of food they had to eat was while following their strict training regimen.

Zac Efron’s only film for 2023 is The Iron Claw, after he had a packed 2022 with three different films. Last year, Efron starred in The Greatest Beer Run Ever, Gold, and the Stephen King adaptation Firestarter. While these films received relatively mixed reviews, it seems like The Iron Claw will definitely be a critical darling along with a potential commercial hit.If there’s one company that can turn an indie movie into a bonafide financial hit, it’s the always consistent A24. Along with the buzzy cast of Zac Efron and The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White, The Iron Claw has had some amazing marketing that has people incredibly hyped to see the film. It’s possible that this wrestling drama could end up being a commercial success, especially with the Oscars on the horizon and the inevitable nods the film will be receiving.

Fortunately, those who are excited about the film won’t have to wait long to see it. You can check out Zac Efron and the rest of the cast when The Iron Claw hits theaters on Friday, December 22. Stay tuned for more news on this and other upcoming films.