Mishal Zafar

Culture/Entertainment Reporter
Sci-fi and horror expert

     Mishal Ali Zafar is an experienced culture and entertainment reporter who has been writing professionally since 2017. Now a contributing writer for Thought Catalog's TV/Movie vertical, Mishal has worked as a staff writer and contributor for numerous publications, including Popsugar, Heavy, Showbiz Cheatsheet, Bustle, and Romper.

     Mishal specializes in covering film, television, and the world of fandom, with an expertise in sci-fi, horror, and genre storytelling. She is an avid consumer of streaming content on platforms like Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV+, HBO Max, and Disney+.

     Some of her favorite subjects to cover are Stephen King adaptations, Marvel and DC projects, and the work of director Mike Flanagan (she can wax poetic about the auteur's skill at crafting horror stories). Mishal is passionate about binge-watching the best of what TV has to offer.

Articles by
Mishal Zafar

7 Spy TV Shows Where The Good Guys Might Be The Bad Guys

Here are seven spy shows that reveal shocking betrayals and hidden agendas at the heart of the very agencies meant to protect us.

10 Best Romantic Thrillers That Will Make You Question Your Faith In Humanity

Torn between wanting a date night movie and something that’ll make you double-check your locks? Romantic thrillers scratch that weird, contradictory itch. One minute you’re swooning, the next you’re screaming — sometimes for the exact same reason.

14 Times A Hip-Hop Star Carried The Movie

Rappers have been stealing scenes on the big screen for decades, proving their talent goes beyond the mic. From gritty dramas to blockbuster comedies, these 14 films showcase hip-hop legends delivering unforgettable performances.

7 Spy Series Where The Agency Can’t Be Trusted

Here are seven spy shows that reveal shocking betrayals and hidden agendas at the heart of the very agencies meant to protect us.

The Adrenaline-Filled Action Movie You Should Watch This Weekend, Based On Your Zodiac Sign

Here’s a breakdown of the perfect action blockbusters based on your astrological sign!

7 Spy TV Shows Where The Conspiracy Is Coming From Inside The Agency

Forget external enemies, these seven spy series prove that the most dangerous threats often lurk within.

10 Feel-Good Rom-Com TV Series To Cuddle Up And Binge

A day in bed with these shows? Yes, please.

Apple TV+ Is Quietly Becoming The GOAT For Mind-Bending Sci-Fi

From workplace dystopias with literal memory splits to underground societies built on lies, these shows dig under your skin and refuse to let go.

7 Loveable Tim Burton Goths That Gave Us Permission To Be Different

From ghost girls to scissor-handed artists, these gothic icons show us that being different isn’t a weakness — it’s where the magic begins. Tim Burton’s weird, misunderstood characters have always struck a chord with audiences worldwide.

‘Severance’, ‘Ironheart’, And The Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Of Science Fiction

Science fiction writers have been eerily accurate fortune tellers for decades.

9 Haunting War Movies That Nail Modern Military Ops

Modern warfare is messy, morally ambiguous, and psychologically devastating.

‘Stranger Things’ Allows Us To Mourn A Vision Of Childhood That’s Basically Extinct

We all love the ’80s throwbacks in Stranger Things, but the show actually taps into something deeper: the way kids used to just be kids.

7 Ways Sci-Fi Shows Like ‘Ironheart’ And ‘Severance’ Are Predicting The 2030s

Tomorrow’s world isn’t a distant fantasy. It’s already under construction, quietly unfolding with every app update and policy shift.

Why The Bear’s On-Demand Panic Attacks Are So Addicting (+ Oddly Soothing)

The Bear shouldn’t be comfort TV — it’s basically a 30-minute anxiety attack with better cinematography. Yet here we are, stress-watching our way through Carmy’s kitchen disasters and somehow finding it oddly soothing. There’s something seriously wrong with us.