Zakaria Ali-Contributor

Zakaria Ali

Contributor

May, 2026
Entertainment Journalist of 4 years, and an Economics student.
Game of Thrones, DCU, The Batman Part II
  • 96
    articles
  • 13
    News
  • 46
    Features
  • 37
    Lists

About Zakaria Ali

Movies are my true calling, and when he isn't logging reviews on Letterbox, he is covering the latest happenings in the movie and TV world, with the occassional contrarian feature essay.

With bylines at Screenrant, Comicbook and more, and more than 800 articles published, Zakaria is an avid lover of all things movies, TV, anime and music, and is sharing his passion with Gamerant's audience.

Growing up a massive nerd who kept up with everything, it is truly a dream come true waking up every morning and getting to write about my passion for like-minded people all over the world.

Favorite Movies

My favorite movies are always changing and never constant, but I always find myself thinking of Castle of Sand (1974), Amores Perros (2000), Paradise Now (2005) and Hyenas (1992).

Favorite TV Shows

I am not as locked into TV as I would like to be but I can endlessly talk about The Wire, Jujutsu Kaisen and
Ikebukuro West Gate Park.

Industry Focus

Everything movies, be it classics, contemporary or foreign icons. 

Latest

Daenerys In Qarth in Game of Thrones
Why Daenerys Targaryen Was Recast in Game of Thrones

Emilia Clarke may have made Daenerys Targaryen an iconic character, but she was not HBO's first choice to play Dany in Game of Thrones.

A split image of Jack in Lost and Omar Little in The Wire
8 Near-Perfect TV Shows Everyone Needs to Watch At Least Once
TV

From Game of Thrones to Lost, some TV shows are so good that everyone must watch them at least once in their lives.

A combined image of Rocket and Lil Ze in City of God
Roger Ebert Called This 23-Year-Old Epic Crime Movie "Breathtaking" & "Terrifying"

Roger Ebert's perfect review score of this sweeping crime epic still rings true today.

A split image of Jack in Lost, Walter White in Breaking Bad, and Joffrey in Game of Thrones
The Best TV Pilot Episodes Ever Made, Ranked
TV

Many good TV shows have great first episodes, but a select few manage to hook viewers within minutes.

A combined image of Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones and Otto in House of the Dragon
Game of Thrones' Greatest Mastermind Was Completely Overshadowed in House of the Dragon

Game of Thrones boasts a brilliant strategic mastermind in Tywin Lannister, but House of the Dragon's Otto Hightower does it much better.

Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday
The Biggest Problem With Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom May Already Be Gone

The biggest question surrounding Doomsday wasn't if Marvel could create another Avengers movie, but the new trailer seems to have silenced critics.

A split image of stills from End of Evangelion and Harakiri
10 Best Japanese Movies of All Time, Ranked

From 1997's Cure to The End of Evangelion, Japan has given fans some flawless movies from almost every genre.

Close-ups of Matt Smith as Daemon and Emma D'Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon Season 3.
6 Best TV Shows to Watch Now House of the Dragon Season 3 is Over

House of the Dragon Season 3 ended on an incredible high and won't be back for two more years, but these series can keep any fan busy in the meantime.

A split image of Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange and Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Far From Home
6 Major Plotlines the MCU Abandoned That Could've Been Great

The MCU's interconnected storytelling often gives superhero fans great payoffs, but some abandoned storylines felt more like a missed opportunity.

Aegon I Targaryen in Game of Thrones universe
Everything We Know About The Game of Thrones Movie (So Far)

The first movie in the Game of Thrones franchise, Aegon's Conquest, is a highly anticipated project in George R. R. Martin's fantasy world.

A combined image of a still from Oldboy and Frodo in Return of the King
4 2003 Movies With Better Writing Than The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

A couple of flawless 2003 films had even better writing than Peter Jackson's conclusion to the epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

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Tom Cruise as Ron Kovic in Born on the Fourth of July
Tom Cruise Made His Best Movie Years Before Becoming an Action Icon

Tom Cruise is an action star, thanks to his roles in Minority Report and Mission: Impossible, but he made his best-ever film years earlier.

A still of Araki Murashige, Chiyoho, and Kuroda Kenbei in The Samurai And the Prisoner
2026's Most Unconventional Samurai Movie Has Already Been Released

One of 2026's most unusual samurai movies is The Samurai and the Prisoner, and it has already released to critical acclaim.

A combined image of Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks and the Baby in Eraserhead
Forget Twin Peaks, David Lynch's Masterpiece Is the Weirdest Movie You'll Ever See

Twin Peaks is David Lynch's magnum opus, but another one of his flawless works is easily the weirdest and most bizarre movie fans will ever see.

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A split image of stills from Hardhome and the Red Wedding episodes of Game of Thrones
8 Great Game of Thrones Episodes That Still Live Rent Free in Everyone's Head

Game of Thrones didn't shy away from shocking deaths or explosive battles, and some great episodes still linger long after the fantasy series ended.

Al Pacino as Vincent with a gun in Michael Mann's Heat
The Best Action Scene Ever Made Comes From This 30-Year-Old Thriller Masterpiece

There's no shortage of impressive action scenes out there, but the best sequence of all time came in Michael Mann's flawless thriller.

Takeshi Hongo as Shin Kamen Rider
Forget the MCU, The Coolest Superhero Movie is a Reboot of Another Beloved Franchise

MCU movies have a ton of cool moments, characters, and suits, but one superhero film is even cooler and more unique.

Paul and another veteran in Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee's Masterpiece Had 1 Huge Advantage Over Other War Movies

Spike Lee's flawless 2020 war movie, Da 5 Bloods, had a secret weapon that elevated it far above other films in the genre.

A still from Neuromancer trailer
1 New Trailer Continues to Prove Apple TV Is Making the Kind of TV HBO Used To

Apple TV has been on a roll with high-quality releases like Severance, but one trailer shows the service is just as prestigious as HBO's early days.

A combined image of Doctor Doom and Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man in the MCU
The MCU Is Taking a Huge Risk With Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom is an iconic Marvel villain, but the MCU is taking a huge risk for the Multiverse Saga's conclusion.

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