Some macOS apps are not launching in full-screen mode
VLC has its own fullscreen structure; which means you can have the playlist windowed or fullscreen as you wish, then the movie fullscreened, either by re-using the same Space, or by invoking the Mac's native fullscreen structure, as you desire.
Prefs cover all eventualities/combinations…

VLC also has no capability to follow the Mac's &quot;Close windows when quitting an app&quot; pref. It always opens just the playlist window &amp; never saves/reloads previous files automatically.
[Almost] all prefs changes in VLC require you to relaunch the app to take effect.
Zoom, I've never used.