74 Crucial Moments From Your Decade-Long Crush on Zac Efron

We've officially had more than a decade to crush on the glorious, the beautiful, Zac Efron. From his swoon-worthy High School Musical moments all the way to his epic shirtlessness at the MTV Movie Awards, there have been plenty of reasons to fall for him. Try as you might to get rid of your Zac Efron crush, he just keeps bringing you back. In honor of our whole decade of fandom, we're detailing what it's been like to love him for all these years. Keep scrolling to start the journey.

01
Zac Efron got his first big role in Summerland, and you were like, "Who is that? Who is that beautiful creature?"
The CW

Zac Efron got his first big role in Summerland, and you were like, "Who is that? Who is that beautiful creature?"

02
He popped up in High School Musical, and he winked, and he sang, and you were irrevocably in love from that moment.
Disney

He popped up in High School Musical, and he winked, and he sang, and you were irrevocably in love from that moment.

03
Then, the second one came out, and it only got worse. Because he only got hotter.
Disney

Then, the second one came out, and it only got worse. Because he only got hotter.

04
He belted it out in "Bet On It," and you felt things. So many things.
Disney

He belted it out in "Bet On It," and you felt things. So many things.

05
He rocked your world with that hip thrust, and your innocence was gone forever.
Disney

He rocked your world with that hip thrust, and your innocence was gone forever.

06
And he flexed his arms, and your heart skipped not one but many beats.
Disney

And he flexed his arms, and your heart skipped not one but many beats.

08
When that Rolling Stone cover came out, you NEVER recovered.
Rolling Stone

When that Rolling Stone cover came out, you NEVER recovered.

09
He suited up for the HSM 3 premiere, and you realized he was hotter than you ever knew.
Getty | Dave M. Benett

He suited up for the HSM 3 premiere, and you realized he was hotter than you ever knew.

10
Next came Hairspray, and he was all coiffed up, and you were beside yourself.
New Line Cinema

Next came Hairspray, and he was all coiffed up, and you were beside yourself.

11
There was a brief moment where you wished you were his hand, which was something you never thought you'd wish.
New Line Cinema

There was a brief moment where you wished you were his hand, which was something you never thought you'd wish.

12
And he said this, not meaning it literally, but you volunteered as tribute anyway.
New Line Cinema

And he said this, not meaning it literally, but you volunteered as tribute anyway.

13
And he just kept getting more and more beautiful. Even in candid moments.
Getty | Munawar Hosain

And he just kept getting more and more beautiful. Even in candid moments.

15
And he showed off his abs and you practically couldn't breathe.
New Line Cinema

And he showed off his abs and you practically couldn't breathe.

In fact, every time he has one of those shirtless moments, your heart just stops.

16
And he had sensationally swoopy hair. It looked better than Justin Bieber's.
Getty | Jun Sato

And he had sensationally swoopy hair. It looked better than Justin Bieber's.

17
And that smile! That smile warmed your heart without fail.
New Line Cinema

And that smile! That smile warmed your heart without fail.

18
He did more movies and kept getting better and better looking all the time.
Universal Pictures

He did more movies and kept getting better and better looking all the time.

19
Like Charlie St. Cloud, which you probably wouldn't have seen if it wasn't starring Zac.
Universal Pictures

Like Charlie St. Cloud, which you probably wouldn't have seen if it wasn't starring Zac.

20
But you had to go. For his exceptional hair and his piercing eyes.
Universal Pictures

But you had to go. For his exceptional hair and his piercing eyes.

It's OK if you printed out all of Zac Efron's movie stills and put them on your wall. It's totally OK.

22
He said things that made so much sense. You knew he was your soul mate.
Universal Pictures

He said things that made so much sense. You knew he was your soul mate.

23
Before long, you realized he was just as incredible in real life, too. He could even pull off a beanie and not look like a fool.
Getty | Noel Vasquez

Before long, you realized he was just as incredible in real life, too. He could even pull off a beanie and not look like a fool.

24
In your secret heart of secret hearts, though, you still preferred him all cleaned up and in a suit.
Getty | Charles Eshelman

In your secret heart of secret hearts, though, you still preferred him all cleaned up and in a suit.

25
No matter how he dressed or how he looked, you knew he was at the peak of his beauty.
Universal Pictures

No matter how he dressed or how he looked, you knew he was at the peak of his beauty.

26
You became obsessed with all things Zac. You hung on every smirk.
Universal Pictures

You became obsessed with all things Zac. You hung on every smirk.

27
Like, everything he did was too much. Even a simple head scratch.
Disney

Like, everything he did was too much. Even a simple head scratch.

29
He got down and dirty, and he still looked effervescent.
Interview Magazine

He got down and dirty, and he still looked effervescent.

30
When he got all dressed up, he looked even better.
GQ

When he got all dressed up, he looked even better.

31
And he lost his shirt and you lost your mind.
GQ

And he lost his shirt and you lost your mind.

32
You ardently wished you could feel those biceps. Just once.
John John Denim

You ardently wished you could feel those biceps. Just once.

33
Most of all, you just knew. You knew your love would never fade.
Interview Magazine

Most of all, you just knew. You knew your love would never fade.

34
Because everyone else paled in comparison.
Interview Magazine

Because everyone else paled in comparison.

36
And especially when he wore a suit.
Getty | Theo Wargo/NBC

And especially when he wore a suit.

37
You were like, "Forget Aaron Samuels. Zac's hair looks so much sexier pushed back."
Getty | Pablo Blazquez Dominguez

You were like, "Forget Aaron Samuels. Zac's hair looks so much sexier pushed back."

38
And then . . . Zac was Instagramming. And you saw pictures you'd never seen before.
Instagram | zacefron

And then . . . Zac was Instagramming. And you saw pictures you'd never seen before.

Every one of Zac's Instagram pictures pretty much gives you new life.

39
Even Elmo couldn't help himself. Because that's how charming Zac is.
Instagram | zacefron

Even Elmo couldn't help himself. Because that's how charming Zac is.

40
And you kinda wished you had your own helmet, for all the times you fainted up to this point.
Instagram | zacefron

And you kinda wished you had your own helmet, for all the times you fainted up to this point.

41
And you were fine when he had his own throne. You were already worshipping him anyway.
Instagram | zacefron

And you were fine when he had his own throne. You were already worshipping him anyway.

43
Now, it's time to talk about that time Zac was just in his underwear.
Millenium Films

Now, it's time to talk about that time Zac was just in his underwear.

44
We know, it's hard to talk about. Because it changed a lot for you.
Millenium Films

We know, it's hard to talk about. Because it changed a lot for you.

45
You were finding more reasons to love Zac than ever before. Like, he was kissing puppies!
Getty | Alexander Tamargo

You were finding more reasons to love Zac than ever before. Like, he was kissing puppies!

46
His chest had never looked better!
Universal Pictures

His chest had never looked better!

47
And don't even get us started on his back muscles.
Universal Pictures

And don't even get us started on his back muscles.

48
Before long, shirtless set pictures were emerging and your heart was racing.
Getty | GONZALO/Bauer-Griffin

Before long, shirtless set pictures were emerging and your heart was racing.

These became some of the many shirtless Zac Efron pictures that have come into our lives.

50
And you hoped he never shimmied again after this because your frail heart would not be able to handle it.
Universal Pictures

And you hoped he never shimmied again after this because your frail heart would not be able to handle it.

51
And then he was naked and you weren't breathing because you could see his side butt.
Focus Features

And then he was naked and you weren't breathing because you could see his side butt.

52
Whenever he was flexing and you were dying a little bit inside.
Universal Pictures

Whenever he was flexing and you were dying a little bit inside.

53
He did the booty dance and you were want for nothing else in this world.
Universal Pictures

He did the booty dance and you were want for nothing else in this world.

54
People spread rumors about the struggles he was having, but you wouldn't listen. Zac would persevere.
The Hollywood Reporter

People spread rumors about the struggles he was having, but you wouldn't listen. Zac would persevere.

You only listened to Zac Efron's words, and no one else's.

55
You even overlooked his relationship with Michelle Rodriguez, because you know it was just part of that weird time.
AKM-GSI

You even overlooked his relationship with Michelle Rodriguez, because you know it was just part of that weird time.

57
You never thought you would be thankful for Rita Ora's existence, and yet . . .
MTV

You never thought you would be thankful for Rita Ora's existence, and yet . . .

58
She gave you this.
Getty | Lester Cohen

She gave you this.

59
Zac saluted you, and you saluted him right back.
MTV

Zac saluted you, and you saluted him right back.

60
Because, dear lord in heaven, have mercy on our souls, look at that body.
Getty | Frederick M. Brown

Because, dear lord in heaven, have mercy on our souls, look at that body.

61
He blew kisses, and you knew they were just for you.
Getty | Kevin Mazur

He blew kisses, and you knew they were just for you.

62
You decided that this was it. No day could possibly be better.
Getty | Jeff Kravitz

You decided that this was it. No day could possibly be better.

63
He later appeared on Bear Grylls, and he was still winking, and you were still swooning.
NBC

He later appeared on Bear Grylls, and he was still winking, and you were still swooning.

Let's be real, there were so many magical moments during the show.

64
And his biceps came out to say hello and ignited old feelings inside you.
NBC

And his biceps came out to say hello and ignited old feelings inside you.

65
And then he whipped off his shirt. And you had to excuse yourself.
NBC

And then he whipped off his shirt. And you had to excuse yourself.

66
And now, you know for sure. It's you and Zac forever.
Getty | Frazer Harrison

And now, you know for sure. It's you and Zac forever.

67
Because he pulls off scruff with ease.
Getty | Kevin Winter

Because he pulls off scruff with ease.

68
And he even looks hot as a girl. You're like, "Still totally into that. No question."
NBC

And he even looks hot as a girl. You're like, "Still totally into that. No question."

69
Because you never get tired of that smirk.
Getty | Gareth Cattermole

Because you never get tired of that smirk.

71
You never get tired of seeing him dance.
Instagram | zacefron

You never get tired of seeing him dance.

72
And you definitely NEVER get tired of his shirtless body.
Getty | TSM/Bauer-Griffin

And you definitely NEVER get tired of his shirtless body.

74
So say yes to Zac Efron. And say yes to that chest. And yes to life.
Universal Pictures

So say yes to Zac Efron. And say yes to that chest. And yes to life.