In　this　work,　monolithic,　crystalline,　porous,　and　oriented　porphyrin　thin　films　are　grown　using　a　novel　van　der　Waals　layer-by-layer　(lbl)　epitaxial　growth　protocol,　yielding　an　unusual　AB-stacking　motif　of　these　interesting　macrocycles　units.　Subsequently,　these　surface-mounted　metal-organic　frameworks　(SURMOFs)　are　transformed　by　thermal　treatment　to　yield　well-performing　counter　electrodes　(CEs)　for　dye-sensitized　solar　cells.　During　this　calcination,　the　heterocyclic　macrocycles　are　metalated,　yielding　compact,　homogeneous,　and　very　stable　metalloporphyrin　thin　films　(ZnTCPP-C)　with　excellent　CE　performance.　For　thin　films　fabricated　using　three　lbl　cycles　(thickness　≈17　nm),　the　power　conversion　efficiency　is　found　to　amount　to　5.63%,　making　it　a　promising　candidate　to　replace　Pt　CE　(6.72%).　Such　calcined　SURMOFs　carry　huge　potential　for　fabricating　electronic　and　photovoltaic　devices.　©　2018　WILEY-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim