View source for The X-Files

{{Short description|American television series}}
{{About|the television series|the franchise|The X-Files (franchise){{!}}''The X-Files'' (franchise)|other uses}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = The X-Files original title screen.webp
| genre              = {{Plain list|
* [[Science fiction on television|Science fiction]]{{sfn|Delsara|2000|p=59}}
* [[Supernatural fiction]]<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Baugh|editor1-first=Lloyd|editor2-last=Mazza|editor2-first=Giuseppe|editor3-last=Srampickal|editor3-first=Jacob |title=Cross Connections |date=2006 |publisher=[[Pontifical Gregorian University]] |isbn=9788878390614 |page=201}}</ref>
* [[Horror fiction|Horror]]{{sfn|Delsara|2000|p=59}}
* [[Mystery fiction|Mystery]]{{sfn|Delsara|2000|p=62}}
* [[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]]{{sfn|Delsara|2000|p=58}}
}}
| creator            = [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]]
| starring           = {{Plain list|
* [[David Duchovny]]
* [[Gillian Anderson]]
* [[Robert Patrick]]
* [[Annabeth Gish]]
* [[Mitch Pileggi]]
}}
| opentheme          = "[[The X-Files (composition)|The X-Files]]"
| endtheme           = "The X-Files"
| music              = [[Mark Snow]]
| country            = United States
| language           = English
| num_seasons        = 11<!--Only increment as a new season premieres, per the documentation of the template!-->
| num_episodes       = 218<!--Only increment as a new episode premieres, per the documentation of the template!-->
| list_episodes      = List of The X-Files episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plain list|
* [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]]
* [[R. W. Goodwin]]
* [[Howard Gordon]]
* [[Frank Spotnitz]]
* [[Vince Gilligan]]
* [[John Shiban]]
* [[Kim Manners]]
* [[Glen Morgan]]
* [[James Wong (producer)|James Wong]]
* [[Michelle MacLaren]]
* [[Michael W. Watkins]]
* [[David Greenwalt]]
}}
| location           = {{Plain list|
* [[Vancouver]] (seasons 1{{en dash}}5, 10{{en dash}}11)
* [[Los Angeles]] (seasons 6{{en dash}}9)
}}
| cinematography     = [[John Bartley]]<br />Bill Roe<br />Joel Ransom<br />[[Jon Joffin]]<br />[[Craig Wrobleski]]<br />Ron Stannett<br />[[Thomas Del Ruth]]
| runtime            = 42–46 minutes (48 minutes for pilot)
| company            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ten Thirteen Productions]]
* [[20th Television|20th Century Fox Television]]
}}
| network            = [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]
| first_aired        = {{Start date|1993|9|10}}
| last_aired         = {{End date|2002|5|19}}
| first_aired2       = {{Start date|2016|1|24}}
| last_aired2        = {{End date|2018|3|21}}
| related            = {{Plain list|
* ''[[Millennium (TV series)|Millennium]]'' (1996{{en dash}}1999)
* ''[[The Lone Gunmen (TV series)|The Lone Gunmen]]'' (2001)
}}
}} 

'''''The X-Files''''' is an American [[science fiction on television|science fiction]] [[drama (film and television)|drama]] television series created by [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]]. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to May 19, 2002, on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], spanning [[List of The X-Files episodes|nine seasons, with 202 episodes]]. A [[The X-Files season 10|tenth season]] of six episodes ran from January to February 2016. Following the ratings success of this revival, ''The X-Files'' returned for an [[The X-Files season 11|eleventh season]] of ten episodes, which ran from January to March 2018. In addition to the television series, two feature films have been released: the 1998 film ''[[The X-Files (film)|The X-Files]]'' and the stand-alone film ''[[The X-Files: I Want to Believe]]'', released in 2008, six years after the original television run ended.

The series revolves around [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) [[special agent|Special Agent]]s [[Fox Mulder]] ([[David Duchovny]]) and [[Dana Scully]] ([[Gillian Anderson]]), who investigate the eponymous "[[X-files unit|X-Files]]": marginalized, unsolved cases involving [[paranormal]] phenomena. Mulder is a skilled [[Offender profiling|criminal profiler]], an ardent [[Supernaturalism|supernaturalist]], and a [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorist]] who believes in the existence of the paranormal, whereas Scully is a medical doctor and skeptic who has been assigned to scientifically analyze Mulder's case files. Early in the series, both agents apparently become pawns in a much larger conflict and come to trust only each other and select others. The agents discover what appears to be a governmental agenda to hide evidence of [[extraterrestrial life]]. Mulder and Scully's shared adventures initially lead them to develop a close platonic bond, which develops into a complex romantic relationship. Roughly one third of the series' episodes follow a complicated [[mythopoeia]]-driven [[Mythology of The X-Files|story arc]] about a planned alien invasion, whereas the other two-thirds may be described as "[[villain of the week|monster of the week]]" episodes that focus on a single villain, mutant, or monster.

''The X-Files'' was inspired by earlier television series featuring elements of suspense, horror, and speculative science fiction, including ''[[The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'', ''[[Night Gallery]]'', ''[[Tales from the Darkside]]'', ''[[Twin Peaks]]'', and especially ''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]''. When creating the main characters, Carter sought to reverse gender stereotypes by making Mulder a believer and Scully a skeptic. The first seven seasons featured Duchovny and Anderson relatively equally. In the eighth and ninth seasons, Anderson took precedence while Duchovny appeared intermittently. New main characters were introduced: FBI Special Agents [[John Doggett]] ([[Robert Patrick]]) and [[Monica Reyes]] ([[Annabeth Gish]]), among others. Mulder and Scully's immediate superior, [[Federal Bureau of Investigation#Rank structure|Assistant Director]] [[Walter Skinner]] ([[Mitch Pileggi]]), began to appear regularly. The first five seasons of ''The X-Files'' were filmed in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, before production eventually moved to [[Los Angeles]], apparently to accommodate Duchovny's schedule. However, the series later returned to Vancouver with the filming of ''The X-Files: I Want to Believe'' as well as the tenth and eleventh seasons.

''The X-Files'' was a hit for the Fox network and received largely positive reviews, although its long-term story arc was criticized near the conclusion. Initially considered a cult series, it turned into a pop culture touchstone that tapped into public mistrust of governments and large institutions and embraced conspiracy theories and spirituality. Both the series and lead actors Duchovny and Anderson received multiple [[List of accolades received by The X-Files|awards and nominations]], and by its conclusion the show was the longest-running science fiction series in American television history. The series also spawned a [[The X-Files (franchise)|franchise]] that includes spin-offs ''[[Millennium (TV series)|Millennium]]'' and ''[[The Lone Gunmen (TV series)|The Lone Gunmen]]'', two theatrical films, and accompanying [[The X-Files merchandise|merchandise]].

{{TOC limit|3}}

== Premise ==

=== General ===
''The X-Files'' follows [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) [[Special agent|Special Agents]] [[Fox Mulder]] ([[David Duchovny]]) and [[Dana Scully]] ([[Gillian Anderson]]). Special Agent Mulder is a talented [[Offender profiling|profiler]] and [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorist]], and an ardent [[Supernaturalism|supernaturalist]]. He is also adamant about the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life and its presence on Earth. These beliefs earn him the nickname "Spooky Mulder" and an assignment to a little-known department that deals with unsolved cases, the [[X-files unit|X-Files]]. His belief in the paranormal springs from the claimed [[alien abduction]] of his sister Samantha Mulder when Mulder was 12. Her abduction drives Mulder throughout most of the series. Because of this, as well as more nebulous desires for vindication and the revelation of truths kept hidden by human authorities, Mulder struggles to maintain objectivity in his investigations.{{sfn|Lowry|1995|pp=99{{en dash}}101}}

Special Agent Scully is a foil for Mulder in this regard. As a medical doctor and natural skeptic, Scully approaches cases with detachment, even when Mulder, despite his considerable training, loses his objectivity.{{sfn|Lowry|1995|pp=99{{en dash}}156}} She is partnered with Mulder initially so that she can debunk Mulder's nonconforming theories, often supplying logical, scientific explanations for the cases' apparently unexplainable phenomena. Although she is frequently able to offer scientific alternatives to Mulder's deductions, she is rarely able to refute them completely. Over the course of the series, she becomes increasingly dissatisfied with her own ability to approach the cases scientifically.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=137}} After Mulder's abduction at the hands of aliens in the [[The X-Files season 7|seventh season]] finale "[[Requiem (The X-Files)|Requiem]]", Scully becomes a "reluctant believer" who explains the paranormal with science.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gross |first=Terry |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1119302 |title=Interview with Chris Carter |work=Fresh Air from WHYY |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |date=March 1, 2001 |access-date=December 3, 2012}}</ref>

Various episodes also deal with the relationship between Mulder and Scully, originally platonic, but that later develops romantically.<ref name=botched/> Mulder and Scully are joined by [[John Doggett]] ([[Robert Patrick]]) and [[Monica Reyes]] ([[Annabeth Gish]]) late in the series, after Mulder is abducted. Doggett replaces him as Scully's partner and helps her search for him, later involving Reyes, of whom Doggett had professional knowledge.<ref name=doggettjohn>{{cite web |author=Fleming, Michael |url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/news/patrick-marks-x-files-spot-1117784003/ |title=Patrick Marks 'X-Files' Spot |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Business Media]] |date=July 20, 2000 |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonEight"/> The initial run of ''The X-Files'' ends when Mulder is secretly subjected to a [[Military justice|military tribunal]] for breaking into the top-secret [[Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center]] and viewing plans for [[alien invasion]] and colonization of [[Earth]]. He is found guilty and sentenced to death but escapes punishment with the help of the other agents, and he and Scully become fugitives.<ref name="truthbbc">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/xfiles/episodeguide/nine/page20.shtml |title=The Truth, Part Two |work=BBC Cult |access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref>

=== Mythology ===
{{Main|Mythology of The X-Files|X-files unit|Syndicate (The X-Files)|Colonist (The X-Files)|l1=Mythology of ''The X-Files''|l3=Syndicate (''The X-Files'')|l4=Colonist (''The X-Files'')}}
Key episodes, known as the "[[Mythology of The X-Files|mytharc]]", were recognized as the "mythology" of the series canon; these episodes carried the extraterrestrial/conspiracy storyline that evolved throughout the series. "[[Villain of the week|Monster of the week]]"—often abbreviated as "MotW" or "MoW"—came to denote the remainder of ''The X-Files'' episodes. These episodes, forming the majority of the series, dealt with [[paranormal]] (and in certain cases, merely criminal) phenomena, including: [[serial killers]] (with or without supernatural powers), [[cryptid]]s, [[ghosts]], mutants, science fiction technology, [[Horror fiction|horror]] monsters and religious phenomena. Some of the "monster of the week" episodes featured satiric elements and comedic story lines.{{sfn|Lavery|1995|p=339{{en dash}}40}} The main story arc involves the agents' efforts to uncover a government conspiracy that covers up the existence of extraterrestrials and their sinister collaboration with said government. Mysterious men constituting a [[shadow government (conspiracy)|shadow]] element within the [[U.S. government]], known as [[Syndicate (The X-Files)|the Syndicate]], are the major villains in the series; late in the series it is revealed that The Syndicate acts as the only liaison between mankind and a group of extraterrestrials that intends to destroy humanity. They are usually represented by the [[Cigarette Smoking Man]] ([[William B. Davis]]), a ruthless killer, masterful politician, negotiator, failed novelist, and the series' principal antagonist.{{sfn|Kowalski|2007|pp=243{{en dash}}46}}

As the series goes along, Mulder and Scully learn about evidence of the alien invasion piece by piece. It is revealed that the extraterrestrials plan on using a sentient virus, known as the [[Black oil (The X-Files)|black oil]] (also known as "Purity"), to infect mankind and turn the population of the world into a slave race. The Syndicate—having made a deal to be spared by the aliens—have been working to develop an alien-human hybrid that will be able to withstand the effects of the black oil. The group has also been secretly working on a vaccine to overcome the black oil; this vaccine is revealed in the latter parts of [[The X-Files season 5|season five]], as well as the [[The X-Files (film)|1998 film]]. Counter to the alien colonization effort, another faction of aliens, the faceless rebels, are working to stop alien colonization. Eventually, in the [[The X-Files season 6|season six]] episodes "[[Two Fathers (The X-Files)|Two Fathers]]" and "[[One Son]]", the rebels manage to destroy the Syndicate. The colonists, now without human liaisons, dispatch the "[[Super Soldiers (The X-Files)|Super Soldiers]]": beings that resemble humans, but are biologically alien. In the latter parts of [[The X-Files season 8|season eight]], and the whole of [[The X-Files season 9|season nine]], the Super Soldiers manage to replace key individuals in the government, forcing Mulder and Scully to go into hiding.{{sfn|Kowalski|2007|pp=243{{en dash}}46}}

== Cast and characters ==
{{main|List of The X-Files characters|l1=List of ''The X-Files'' characters}}

=== Starring ===
* [[Fox Mulder]] is portrayed by [[David Duchovny]]:<br />Mulder is an [[Oxford University|Oxford]]-educated [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] [[special agent|Special Agent]], a [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorist]], a talented [[Offender profiling|criminal profiler]], and an ardent [[supernatural]]ist who believes in the existence of [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrials]] and a [[Conspiracy|government conspiracy]] to hide the truth regarding them. He works in the X-Files division, which is concerned with cases marked as unsolvable; most involve supernatural/mysterious circumstances. Mulder considers the [[X-file|X-Files]] so important that he has made their study his life's main purpose.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=71}} After his [[Colonist (The X-Files)|abduction by aliens]] at the end of [[The X-Files season 7|season seven]], his role in the show diminishes and much of his work is taken on by Special Agent John Doggett.<ref name=nyt/> He appears in an episode of ''[[The Lone Gunmen (TV series)|The Lone Gunmen]]'' and in both the 1998 film ''[[The X-Files (film)|The X-Files]]'' and the 2008 film ''[[The X-Files: I Want to Believe]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Richmond |first=Alex |title=All About Yves |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-lone-gunmen/all-about-yves/ |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |work=[[Television Without Pity]] |access-date=December 3, 2012 |archive-date=December 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206102402/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-lone-gunmen/all-about-yves/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Duncan|1998|loc=passim}}{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|pp=221{{en dash}}33}}
* [[Dana Scully]] is portrayed by [[Gillian Anderson]]:<br />Scully is an FBI Special Agent, a medical doctor, and scientist who is Mulder's partner. In contrast to his credulity, Scully is a skeptic, basing her beliefs on scientific explanations.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=137}} However, despite her otherwise rigid skepticism, she is a [[Catholicism|Catholic]], and her faith plays an important role in several episodes.{{sfn|Kowalski|2007|p=50}} As the series progresses, she becomes more open to the possibility of paranormal happenings.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gross |first=Terry |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1119302 |title=Interview with Chris Carter |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] |date=March 2001 |access-date=December 3, 2012}}</ref> In the latter part of the eighth season, her position in the X-Files office is taken by Special Agent Monica Reyes, and Scully moves to [[Quantico, Virginia|Quantico]] to teach new FBI Special Agents.<ref name=alonebbc>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/xfiles/episodeguide/eight/page19.shtml |title=Alone |work=BBC Cult |access-date=March 21, 2012}}</ref> She appears in both ''The X-Files'' feature films.{{sfn|Duncan|1998|loc=passim}}{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|pp=221{{en dash}}33}}
* [[John Doggett]] is portrayed by [[Robert Patrick]] (seasons 8–9):<br />Doggett is an FBI Special Agent who makes his first appearance in the season eight episode "[[Within (The X-Files)|Within]]". Doggett served in the United States Marine Corps from the 1970s to the 1980s. Later, he started to work with the [[New York City Police Department]], reaching the rank of Detective.<ref name="Within">{{cite episode |title=Within |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Kim Manners]] (director); [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=8 |number=1}}</ref> After his son's death, he joined the FBI's [[FBI Criminal Investigative Division|Criminal Investigations Division.]]<ref>{{cite episode |title=Empedocles |series=The X-Files |credits=Barry K. Thomas (director); Greg Walker (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=8 |number=17}}</ref> In 2000, [[Alvin Kersh]] assigned him to the [[X-files unit|X-Files unit]] as Scully's partner after an unsuccessful task force attempt to find Mulder.<ref name="Within"/> He does not appear in ''The X-Files'' feature films.
* [[Monica Reyes]] is portrayed by [[Annabeth Gish]] (season 9; also starring season 8; guest seasons 10–11):<br />Reyes is an FBI Special Agent who was born and raised in [[Mexico City]].<ref name="John_Doe">{{cite episode |episode-link=John Doe (The X-Files) |title=John Doe |series=The X-Files |credits=Michelle Maxwell MacLaren (director); [[Vince Gilligan]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=9 |number=7 |airdate=January 13, 2002}}</ref> She majored in folklore and mythology at [[Brown University]] and earned a master's degree in religious studies. Her first FBI assignment was serving on a special task force investigating rituals.<ref name="This_Is_Not_Happening">{{cite episode |episode-link=This Is Not Happening (The X-Files) |title=This Is Not Happening |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Kim Manners]] (director); [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] & [[Frank Spotnitz]] (writers) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=8 |number=14 |airdate=February 25, 2001}}</ref> She is a longtime friend of Doggett's and becomes his partner after Scully's departure.<ref name=alonebbc/><ref name="This_Is_Not_Happening"/> She did not appear in ''The X-Files'' feature films.
* [[Walter Skinner]] is portrayed by [[Mitch Pileggi]] (season 9–11; also starring seasons 3–8; recurring season 2; guest season 1):<br />Skinner is an FBI Assistant Director who served in the United States Marine Corps in the [[Vietnam War]]. During this time, he shot and killed a young boy carrying explosives, an incident which scarred him for life.<ref name="One_Breath">{{cite episode |title=One Breath |series=The X-Files |credits=[[R.W. Goodwin]] (director); [[Glen Morgan]] & [[James Wong (producer)|James Wong]] (writers) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=2 |number=8}}</ref> Skinner is originally Mulder and Scully's direct supervisor.<ref name="Tooms">{{cite episode |title=Tooms |series=The X-Files |credits=[[David Nutter]] (director); [[Glen Morgan]] & [[James Wong (producer)|James Wong]] (writers) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=1 |number=21}}</ref> He later serves the same position for Doggett and Reyes.<ref name="Within" /> Although he is originally portrayed as somewhat antagonistic, he eventually becomes a close friend of Mulder and Scully.<ref name="Within" /><ref name="Requiem" /> He appeared in an episode of ''The Lone Gunmen'' and in both ''The X-Files'' feature films.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|pp=221{{en dash}}33}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Richmond |first=Alex |title=The Lying Game |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-lone-gunmen/the-lying-game/ |work=[[Television Without Pity]] |publisher=[[NBCUniversal]] |access-date=December 3, 2012 |archive-date=December 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206141206/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/the-lone-gunmen/the-lying-game/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Also starring ===
* [[Cigarette Smoking Man]] is portrayed by [[William B. Davis]] (seasons 4–7, 9; recurring seasons 1–3, 10–11):<br />The Cigarette Smoking Man is the series' primary villain. In the ninth-season episodes "William" and "The Truth", it is suggested that he is Mulder's biological father.<ref name="William"/><ref name="The_Truth"/> In the seventh-season episode "[[Requiem (The X-Files)|Requiem]]", he is believed to have been killed after being pushed down a flight of stairs by [[Alex Krycek]], until the ninth-season finale "[[The Truth (The X-Files)|The Truth]]", in which Mulder and Scully travel through remote New Mexico and reach a pueblo where a "wise man" reputedly lives, who is revealed to be Cigarette Smoking Man.<ref name="truthbbc"/><ref name="Requiem">{{cite episode |title=Requiem |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Kim Manners]] (director); [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=7 |number=22}}</ref> He also appears in the 1998 feature film.{{sfn|Duncan|1998|loc=passism}}
* [[Alex Krycek]] is portrayed by [[Nicholas Lea]] (seasons 5–9; recurring seasons 2–3; guest season 4):<br />Krycek is a Russian-American, the son of Cold War immigrants, and first introduced as an FBI Special Agent assigned as a temporary investigation partner to Fox Mulder.<ref name="Tunguska">{{cite episode |episode-link=Tunguska (The X-Files) |title=Tunguska |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Kim Manners]] (director), [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] & [[Frank Spotnitz]] (writers) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] |season=4 |number=8}}</ref><ref name="Sleepless">{{cite episode |episode-link=Sleepless (The X-Files) |title=Sleepless |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Rob Bowman (filmmaker)|Rob Bowman]] (director), [[Howard Gordon]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] |season=2 |number=4}}</ref> Krycek proceeds to work with Mulder and attempts to gain his trust. However, it later becomes evident that Krycek is actually an undercover agent working for Cigarette Smoking Man. Krycek plays an important part in several events that are harmful to Mulder and Scully.<ref name="Sleepless"/><ref name="Anasazi">{{cite episode |episode-link=Anasazi (The X-Files) |title=Anasazi |series=The X-Files |credits=[[R.W. Goodwin]] (director), [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] |season=2 |number=25}}</ref><ref name="SR">{{cite episode |episode-link=S.R. 819 (The X-Files) |title=S.R. 819 |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Daniel Sackheim]] (director), John Shiban (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] |season=6 |number=9}}</ref><ref name="Deadalive">{{cite episode |episode-link=Deadalive |title=Deadalive |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Tony Wharmby]] (director), [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] & [[Frank Spotnitz]] (writers) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] |season=8 |number=15}}</ref><ref name="Existence">{{cite episode |episode-link=Existence (The X-Files) |title=Existence |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Kim Manners]] (director), [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] |season=8 |number=21}}</ref>
* [[Jeffrey Spender]] is portrayed by [[Chris Owens (actor)|Chris Owens]] (season 6; recurring season 5; guest seasons 9, 11):<br />Spender is a skeptic who is assigned to The X-Files after Fox Mulder's forced leave.<ref name=beginningepisode6/> He is the son of Cigarette Smoking Man and his ex-wife, multiple abductee Cassandra Spender,<ref name="One_Son">{{cite episode |title=One Son |series=The X-Files |credits=''Director:'' [[Rob Bowman (filmmaker)|Rob Bowman]] ''Writer(s):'' [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] & [[Frank Spotnitz]] |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] |season=6 |number=12}}</ref> as well as possibly being the half-brother of Mulder.<ref name="William"/><ref name="The_Truth"/> Initially thought to have been murdered by Cigarette Smoking Man, Spender returns, horribly disfigured, in the [[William (The X-Files)|ninth season]] and helps Scully's son William.<ref name="William">{{cite episode |title=William |series=The X-Files |credits=''Director:'' [[David Duchovny]] ''Writer(s):'' David Duchovny, [[Frank Spotnitz]] & [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] |season=9 |number=16}}</ref>
* [[Alvin Kersh]] is portrayed by [[James Pickens Jr.]] (season 9; recurring seasons 6, 8; guest season 11):<br />As an assistant director (and later deputy director), he temporarily becomes supervisor to Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully when they are assigned away from the X-Files division.<ref name=beginningepisode6>{{cite episode |episode-link=The Beginning (The X-Files) |title=The Beginning |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Kim Manners]] (director); [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] (writer) |airdate=November 8, 1998 |network=Fox Broadcasting Company |season=6 |number=1}}</ref> During this time, Cigarette Smoking Man often visits him in his office.<ref>{{cite episode |episode-link=Triangle (The X-Files) |title=Triangle |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] (writer & director) |network=Fox Broadcasting Company |season=6 |number=3 |airdate=November 22, 1998}}</ref> Kersh assigns Mulder and Scully mostly to menial tasks, such as terrorist details and Federal background checks.<ref>{{cite episode |episode-link=Drive (The X-Files) |title=Drive |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Rob Bowman (filmmaker)|Rob Bowman]] (director); [[Vince Gilligan]] (writer) |network=Fox Broadcasting Company |season=6 |number=2 |airdate=November 15, 1998}}</ref> Kersh is largely antagonistic to Mulder and Scully but in "The Truth" somewhat redeems himself by helping Mulder escape a death sentence.<ref name="The_Truth">{{cite episode |episode-link=The Truth (The X-Files) |title=The Truth |series=The X-Files |credits=[[Kim Manners]] (director); [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=9 |number=19 & 20 |airdate=May 12, 2002}}</ref>

== Production ==

=== Conception ===
{{See also|The X-Files season 1|Pilot (The X-Files)|l1=''The X-Files'' season 1|l2=Pilot (''The X-Files'')}}
{{quote box|align=left|qalign=left|bgcolor=silver|width=20%|source=—Chris Carter on creating the characters of Mulder and Scully.<ref name="BehindTheXFiles">{{cite magazine |title=Opening the X-Files: Behind the Scenes of TV's Hottest Show |first=David |last=Bischoff |date=December 1994 |publisher=[[Penthouse (magazine)|General Media, Inc]] |magazine=[[Omni (magazine)|Omni]] |volume=17 |issue=3 }}</ref>|Mulder and Scully came right out of my head. A dichotomy. They are the equal parts of my desire to believe in something and my inability to believe in something. My skepticism and my faith. And the writing of the characters came very easily to me. I want, like a lot of people do, to have the experience of witnessing a paranormal phenomenon. At the same time I want not to accept it, but to question it. I think those characters and those voices came out of that duality.}}

[[File:Chris Carter (July 2008).jpg|thumb|right|Chris Carter created ''The X-Files'' and wrote the [[Pilot (The X-Files)|series pilot]], along with several other episodes.]]
California native [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] was given the opportunity to produce new shows for the Fox network in the early 1990s. Carter was tired of the comedies he had been working on for [[Walt Disney Pictures]].{{sfn|Edwards|1996|p=9}} A report that said 3.7&nbsp;million Americans believed they may have been abducted by aliens, the [[Watergate scandal]], and the 1970s horror series ''[[Kolchak: The Night Stalker]]'' all contributed to trigger the idea for ''The X-Files''. He wrote the [[TV pilot|pilot episode]] in 1992.<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |title=X Appeal: 'The X-Files' Builds a Cult Following by Following the Occult |first=Tim |last=Apello |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 18, 1994 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/03/18/x-files-appeal/ |archive-date=September 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904110347/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301487,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Carter's initial pitch for ''The X-Files'' was rejected by Fox executives. He fleshed out the concept and returned a few weeks later, whereupon they commissioned the pilot. Carter worked with ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' producer [[Daniel Sackheim]] to further develop the pilot, drawing stylistic inspiration from the 1988 documentary ''[[The Thin Blue Line (1988 film)|The Thin Blue Line]]'' and the British television series ''[[Prime Suspect]]''.{{sfn|Edwards|1996|p=13}} Inspiration also came from Carter's memories of ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'' as well as from ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'', which provided the impetus for framing the series around agents from the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], to provide the characters with a more plausible reason for being involved in each case than Carter believed was present in ''Kolchak''.{{sfn|Lowry |1995|pp=10{{en dash}}12}} Carter was determined to keep the relationship between the two leads strictly platonic, basing their interactions on the characters of [[Emma Peel]] and [[John Steed]] in ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' series.{{sfn|Lovece|1996|pp=3{{en dash}}4}}{{sfn|Edwards|1996|p=12}}

The early 1990s series ''[[Twin Peaks]]'' was a major influence on the show's dark atmosphere and its often surreal blend of drama and irony. Duchovny had appeared as a [[transgender]] [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agent in ''Twin Peaks'' and the Mulder character was seen as a parallel to that show's FBI Agent [[Dale Cooper]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/19/arts/television-radio-the-x-files-finds-the-truth-its-time-is-past.html |title=Television/Radio; 'The X-Files' Finds the Truth: Its Time Is Past |first=Joyce |last=Millman |date=May 19, 2002 |access-date=July 9, 2009 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> The producers and writers cited ''[[All the President's Men (film)|All the President's Men]]'', ''[[Three Days of the Condor]]'', ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'', ''[[Raiders of the Lost Ark]]'', ''[[Rashomon]]'', ''[[The Thing (1982 film)|The Thing]]'', ''[[The Boys from Brazil (film)|The Boys from Brazil]]'', ''The Silence of the Lambs'' and ''[[JFK (film)|JFK]]'' as other influences.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/business/xfiles-are-closed-a-lawsuit-opens.html |title='X-Files' Are Closed; a Lawsuit Opens |first=Maria |last=Aspan |date=January 23, 2006 |access-date=July 31, 2009 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Episodes written by [[Darin Morgan]] often referred to or referenced other films.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kirby |first=Jonathan |title=Not Just a Fluke: How Darin Morgan Saved The X-Files |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/not-just-a-fluke-how-darin-morgan-saved-the-x-files/ |work=[[PopMatters]] |access-date=January 2, 2013 |date=October 29, 2007}}</ref>

=== Casting ===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = David Duchovny 2011 Shankbone.JPG
| width1 = 175
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| caption1 = Duchovny portrays [[Fox Mulder]] as a main character for season 1–7, 10 and 11 of the series, as well as an intermittent lead in the eighth and ninth.
| image2 = GillianAndersonByIdoCarmelWonderCon2008.jpg
| width2 = 190
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = Anderson portrays [[Dana Scully]] for the entire eleven seasons of the series. She was the first female writer and director of an episode in 2000.<ref name="gabio">{{cite web |author=Anderson, Gillian |url=http://www.gilliananderson.ws/about/bio1.shtml |title=Biography |publisher=Official Gillian Anderson Website |access-date=April 10, 2011}}</ref>
| footer = 
}}

Duchovny had worked in Los Angeles for three years prior to ''The X-Files'', focusing on feature films. In 1993 his manager Melanie Green gave him the script for the [[The X-Files (pilot episode)|pilot episode]] of ''The X-Files''. Green and Duchovny were both convinced it was a good script so he auditioned for the lead.<ref>{{cite episode |title=David Duchovny |series=Inside the Actors Studio |series-link=Inside the Actors Studio |credits=[[James Lipton]] (interviewer); [[David Duchovny]] (interviewee) |network=[[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]] |airdate=April 10, 2005 |season=11 |number=17}}</ref> Duchovny's audition was "terrific", though he talked rather slowly. While the casting director of the show was very positive toward him, Carter thought that he was not particularly intelligent. He asked Duchovny if he could "please" imagine himself as an FBI agent in "future" episodes. Duchovny, however, turned out to be one of the best-read people that Carter knew.<ref>{{cite news |author=Carter, Chris |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/xfiles/interviews/carter/clip0.shtml |title=Casting Mulder |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=July 12, 2009}}</ref>

Anderson auditioned for the part of Scully in 1993. "I couldn't put the script down", she recalled.<ref name="gabio"/> For the role, the network wanted either a more established actress or one that was "taller, leggier, blonder and breastier" than the 24-year-old Anderson, a theater veteran with minor film experience. After auditions, Carter felt she was the only choice.<ref name=interviewwithanderson>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Times]] |title=Interview with Anderson |first=Kevin |last=Maher |date=March 29, 2007 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url=https://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1580600.ece |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615075057/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article1580600.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{sfn|Lowry |1995|pp=15{{en dash}}16}}<ref name="twentyohsix">{{cite news |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |author=Ryan, Maureen |title= Gillian Anderson hasn't disappeared; it just seems like it|date=January 18, 2006 |access-date=June 29, 2009 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-01-18-0601170320-story.html}}</ref> Carter insisted that Anderson had the kind of "no-nonsense integrity that the role required." For portraying Scully, Anderson won numerous major awards: the [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] in 1996 and 1997, an [[Emmy Award]] in 1997, and a [[Golden Globe Award]] 1997.<ref name="gabio"/>

The character [[Walter Skinner]] was played by actor [[Mitch Pileggi]], who had unsuccessfully auditioned for the roles of two or three other characters on ''The X-Files'' before getting the part. At first, being asked back to audition for the recurring role puzzled him, until he discovered the reason he had not previously been cast in those roles—Carter had been unable to envision Pileggi as any of those characters, because the actor had been shaving his head. When Pileggi auditioned for Walter Skinner, he had been in a grumpy mood and had allowed his hair to grow. His attitude fit well with Skinner's character, causing Carter to assume that the actor was only pretending to be grumpy. Pileggi later realized he had been lucky that he had not been cast in one of the earlier roles, as he believed he would have appeared in only a single episode and would have missed the opportunity to play the recurring role.<ref name="Walter_Skinner">{{cite news |url=http://www.hieran.com/office/firstint.html |title=Mitch Pileggi interview |first=Robin M. |last=Mayhall |date=June 1995 |access-date=July 10, 2009 |work=The X-Tapes}}</ref>

Before the seventh season aired, Duchovny filed a lawsuit against [[20th Century Fox]], claiming that Fox had undersold the rights to its own affiliates, thereby costing him huge sums of money. Eventually, the lawsuit was settled, and Duchovny was awarded a settlement of about $20&nbsp;million, but the lawsuit put strain on Duchovny's professional relationships. Neither Carter nor Duchovny was contracted to work on the series beyond the seventh season; however, Fox entered into negotiations near the end of that season to bring the two on board for an eighth season.{{sfn| Kessenich |2002|p=80}} After settling his contract dispute, Duchovny quit full-time participation in the show after the seventh season.<ref name=bbcnews>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1337685.stm |title=Duchovny Quits X-Files |work=BBC News |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref> This contributed to uncertainties over the likelihood of an eighth season.<ref name=salon>{{cite web |author=Spencer, Russ |url=http://www.salon.com/2000/04/28/chriscarter/ |title=A close encounter with Chris Carter |work=Salon |date=April 28, 2000 |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref> Carter and most fans felt the show was at its natural endpoint with Duchovny's departure, but it was decided that Mulder would be abducted at the end of the seventh season and would return in 12 episodes the following year.<ref name=space>{{cite news |author=Elber, Lynn |url=http://www.space.com/sciencefiction/tv/xfiles_duchovny_000518_wg.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040924004848/http://space.com/sciencefiction/tv/xfiles_duchovny_000518_wg.html |archive-date=September 24, 2004 |title=Fox Mulder 'Ready to Get Back to Work' |agency=Associated Press / Space |date=May 18, 2000 |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref> The producers then announced that a new character, John Doggett, would fill Mulder's role.{{sfn|Shapiro|2001|p=278}}

More than 100 actors auditioned for the role of Doggett, but only about ten were seriously considered. [[Lou Diamond Phillips]], [[Hart Bochner]], and [[Bruce Campbell]] were among the ten. The producers chose Robert Patrick.<ref name=doggettjohn/> Carter believed that the series could continue for another ten years with new leads, and the opening credits were accordingly redesigned in both seasons eight and nine to emphasize the new actors (along with Pileggi, who was finally listed as a main character).<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonEight"/> Doggett's presence did not give the series the ratings boost the network executives were hoping for.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |author=Gates, Anita |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/18/arts/television-radio-without-mulder-most-of-the-time-the-x-files-thrives.html |title=Television/Radio; Without Mulder (Most of the Time), 'The X-Files' Thrives |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 18, 2001 |access-date=July 5, 2009}}</ref> The eighth-season episode "[[This Is Not Happening (The X-Files)|This is Not Happening]]" marked the first appearance of Monica Reyes, played by Gish, who became a main character in season nine. Her character was developed and introduced due to Anderson's possible departure at the end of the eighth season. Although Anderson ultimately stayed through the ninth season, Gish became a series regular.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=190}}

==== Minor recurring characters ====

[[Glen Morgan]] and [[James Wong (producer)|James Wong]]'s early influence on ''The X-Files'' mythology led to their introduction of popular [[List of The X-Files characters|secondary characters]] who continued for years in episodes written by others: Scully's father, William ([[Don S. Davis]]); her mother, Margaret ([[Sheila Larken]]); and her sister, Melissa ([[Melinda McGraw]]). The conspiracy-inspired trio [[The Lone Gunmen]] were also secondary characters.<ref name="SALON">{{cite web |author=Stark, Jeff |title=Interview with Chris Carter |url=http://www.salon.com/2001/03/13/carter_2/ |publisher=Salon Media Group |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |access-date=June 29, 2009 |date=April 13, 2001}}</ref> The trio was introduced in the first-season episode "[[E.B.E. (The X-Files)|E.B.E.]]" as a way to make Mulder appear more credible. They were originally meant to appear in only that episode, but due to their popularity, they returned in the second-season episode "[[Blood (The X-Files)|Blood]]" and became recurring characters.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=49}} Cigarette Smoking Man, portrayed by William B. Davis, was initially cast as an extra in the pilot episode. His character, however, grew into the main antagonist.<ref name="Threadsof">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Frank Spotnitz|Spotnitz, Frank]], [[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]], Shiban, John, [[Kim Manners|Manners, Kim]] and [[Howard Gordon|Gordon, Howard]] among others |year=2004 |title=The X-Files Mythology, Volume 1 – Abduction |title-link=The X-Files Mythology, Volume 1 – Abduction |medium=DVD |chapter=Threads of Mythology |publisher=[[Fox Home Entertainment]]}}</ref>

=== Filming ===
[[File:Stanley Park 1999 Rain.jpg|thumb|"The End", the season five finale (1998), was the last episode to be filmed in [[Vancouver]] until the revival in 2016. ]]

During the early stages of production, Carter founded [[Ten Thirteen Productions]] and began to plan for filming the pilot in Los Angeles. However, unable to find suitable locations for many scenes, he decided to "go where the good forests are" and moved production to [[Vancouver]].{{sfn|Lowry|1995|p=17}} It was soon realized by the production crew that since so much of the first season would require filming on location, rather than on sound stages, a second location manager would be needed.{{sfn|Gradnitzer|Pittson|1999|p=16}} The show remained in Vancouver for the first five seasons; production then shifted to Los Angeles beginning with the sixth season.{{sfn|Meisler|2000|pp=18{{en dash}}19}} Duchovny was unhappy over his geographical separation from his wife, [[Téa Leoni]], although his discontent was popularly attributed to frustration with Vancouver's persistent rain.<ref>{{cite news |author=Strachan, Alex |url=http://www.mjq.net/xfiles/dd-sun-interview.htm |title=The Alienation of David Duchovny |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |date=February 17, 1998 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> Anderson also wanted to return to the United States, and Carter relented following the fifth season. The season ended in May 1998 with "The End", the final episode shot in Vancouver and the final episode with the involvement of many of the original crew members, including director and producer [[R.W. Goodwin]] and his wife Sheila Larken, who played [[Margaret Scully]] and would later return briefly.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonSix">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] |year=2000 |section=The Truth About Season Six |medium=DVD |title=[[The X-Files season 6|The X-Files: The Complete Sixth Season]] |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Strachan, Alex |url=http://www.mjq.net/xfiles/cc-farewell.htm |title=X-Files Creator Bids B.C. Sad Adieu |newspaper=[[Vancouver Sun]] |date=March 30, 1998 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref>

With the move to Los Angeles, many changes behind the scenes occurred, as much of the original ''The X-Files'' crew was gone. New production designer Corey Kaplan, editor [[Lynne Willingham]], writer David Amann and director and producer Michael Watkins joined and stayed for several years. Bill Roe became the show's new director of photography and episodes generally had a drier, brighter look due to California's sunshine and climate, as compared with Vancouver's rain, fog and temperate forests. Early in the sixth season, the producers took advantage of the new location, setting the show in new parts of the country.<ref name="dir">{{cite web |author=Hurwitz, Matt |url=http://www.dga.org/news/v26_6/feat_kimmanners.php3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316022856/http://www.dga.org/news/v26_6/feat_kimmanners.php3 |title=Directing ''The X-Files'' |work=DGA Monthly |publisher=[[Directors Guild of America]] |date=March 2002 |archive-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> For example, Vince Gilligan's [[Drive (The X-Files)|"Drive"]], about a man subject to an unexplained illness, was a frenetic action episode, unusual for ''The X-Files'' largely because it was set in [[Nevada]]'s stark desert roads.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonSix"/> The "Dreamland" two-part episode was also set in Nevada, this time in [[Area 51]]. The episode was largely filmed at "Club Ed", a movie ranch located on the outskirts of [[Lancaster, California]].<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonSix"/><ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonSeven">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] |year=2000 |section=The Truth Behind Season 7 |medium=DVD |title=[[The X-Files season 7|The X-Files: The Complete Seventh Season]] |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}</ref>{{sfn|Meisler|2000|p=65}}

Although the sixth through ninth seasons were filmed in Los Angeles, the series' second movie, ''The X-Files: I Want to Believe'' (2008), was filmed in Vancouver,<ref name="Province">{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=3c696f83-c42f-4b57-9f7b-9372a358eea2&k=93084 |title=Filming of the X-Files Sequel Wraps |date=March 12, 2008 |author=Schaefer, Glen |work=[[Vancouver Province]] |access-date=September 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823050139/http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=3c696f83-c42f-4b57-9f7b-9372a358eea2&k=93084 |archive-date=August 23, 2012 }}</ref> According to Spotnitz, the film's script was written for the city and surrounding areas.<ref name="Province"/> The 2016 revival was also shot there.<ref name=vancouvercitation1>{{cite web |last1=Grainger |first1=Peter |title=New 'X-Files' Episodes to Shoot in Vancouver, Smoking Man Confirms |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/new-x-files-episodes-to-shoot-in-vancouver-smoking-man-confirms/ |publisher=[[CIVT-DT|CTV Vancouver]] |access-date=March 27, 2015 |date=March 26, 2015}}</ref><ref name=XFilesNews>{{cite web |last1=Quijada |first1=Avi |title=XFN Exclusive: Chris Carter on #XFilesRevival |url=http://www.xfiles.news/index.php/news/latest-news/85-xfn-exclusive-chris-carter-on-xfilesrevival |publisher=XFilesNews |access-date=March 29, 2015 |date=March 25, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125142527/http://www.xfiles.news/index.php/news/latest-news/85-xfn-exclusive-chris-carter-on-xfilesrevival |archive-date=January 25, 2016 }}</ref>

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of The X-Files|l1=Music of ''The X-Files''}}
The music was composed by [[Mark Snow]], who got involved with ''The X-Files'' through his friendship with [[executive producer]] Goodwin. Initially Carter had no candidates. A little over a dozen people were considered, but Goodwin continued to press for Snow, who auditioned around three times with no sign from the production staff as to whether they wanted him. One day, however, Snow's agent called him, talking about the "pilot episode" and hinting that he had got the job.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.soundtrack.net/content/article/?id=19 |title=The S Files |website=Soundtrack.net |access-date=June 6, 2008 |date=May 27, 1998}}</ref>

{| border="0" style="float:right; font-size:80%; color:black; width:130px;"
| {{Listen|filename=X-Files Theme.ogg|title="The X-Files" (sample)|description="The X-Files", the theme from the television series, as performed by Mark Snow. The sample illustrates the noted whistle and echo effects.|format=[[Ogg]]}}
|}

The theme, "[[The X-Files (composition)|The X-Files]]", used more instrumental sections than most dramas.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonOne"/> The theme song's famous whistle effect was inspired by the track "[[How Soon Is Now?]]" from the US edition of [[The Smiths]]' 1985 album ''[[Meat Is Murder]]''. After attempting to craft the theme with different sound effects, Snow used a [[E-mu Proteus|Proteus 2]] rackmount [[sound module]] with a preset sound called "Whistl'n Joe". After hearing this sound, Carter was "taken aback" and noted it was "going to be good".{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|pp=34{{en dash}}35}} According to the "Behind the Truth" segment on the [[The X-Files season 1|first season]] DVD, Snow created the echo effect on the track by accident. He felt that after several revisions, something still was not right. Carter walked out of the room and Snow put his hand and forearm on his keyboard in frustration. By doing so, he accidentally activated an echo effect setting. The resulting riff pleased Carter; Snow said, "this sound was in the keyboard. And that was it."<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonOne">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] |year=2000 |title=''[[The X-Files season 1|The X-Files: The Complete First Season]]'' |medium=DVD |chapter=The Truth Behind Season 1 |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}</ref> The second episode, "[[Deep Throat (The X-Files episode)|Deep Throat]]", marked Snow's debut as solo composer for an entire episode. The production crew was determined to limit the music in the early episodes.<ref name="Commentary-DeepThroat">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] |year=2005 |title=''[[The X-Files season 1|The X-Files: The Complete First Season]]'' |medium=DVD |chapter=Audio Commentary for "Deep Throat" |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Likewise, the theme song itself first appeared in "Deep Throat".{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|pp=34{{en dash}}35}}

Snow was tasked with composing the score for both ''The X-Files'' films. The films marked the first appearance of real orchestral instruments; previous music had been crafted by Snow using digitally sampled instrument sounds.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|pp=34{{en dash}}35}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Larson |first=Randall |title=Dark Music {{en dash}} From Ambient Sound Design to Mahleresque Melody|magazine =[[Cinefantastique]]|date=October 1998|volume=30|issue=7/8|pages=47{{en dash}}48}}</ref> Snow's soundtrack for the first film, ''[[The X-Files: Original Motion Picture Score]]'', was released in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |last=Love |first=Bret |title=X-Files (Score) {{en dash}} Mark Snow|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/x-files-score-mw0000037330|work=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> For the second film, Snow recorded with the [[Hollywood Studio Symphony]] in May 2008 at the Newman Scoring Stage at 20th Century Fox in [[Century City]].<ref name=scoring>{{cite news |author=Dan Goldwasser |url=http://www.scoringsessions.com/news/143 |title=Mark Snow Scores ''The X-Files: I Want to Believe'' |publisher=ScoringSessions.com |date=May 30, 2008 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> [[UNKLE]] recorded a new version of the theme music for the end credits.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/film-xfiles-dc-idUSN273206820080628 |title=''X-Files'' Theme Gets a Fresh Spin for Summer Film |work=Reuters |date=June 27, 2008 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> Some of the unusual sounds were created by a variation of silly putty and dimes tucked into piano strings. Snow commented that the fast percussion featured in some tracks was inspired by the track "Prospectors Quartet" from the ''[[There Will Be Blood]]'' soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] and [[Mark Snow|Snow, Mark]] |year=2005 |title=The X-Files: I Want to Believe |title-link=The X-Files: I Want to Believe |medium=DVD |chapter='Trust No One' Documentary |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> The soundtrack score, ''[[The X-Files: I Want to Believe (soundtrack)|The X-Files: I Want to Believe]]'', was released in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=The X-Files: I Want to Believe {{en dash}} Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|website=Amazon|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AKTZSM/|access-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref>

=== Opening sequence ===
[[File:XFilesCreditsS1-7.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Shots from the show's original and current opening credit sequence]]
The opening sequence was made in 1993 for the first season, and remained unchanged until Duchovny left the show.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonEight"/><ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonOne"/> Carter sought to make the title an "impactful opening" with "supernatural images".{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=35}} These scenes notably include a split-screen image of a seed germinating and a "terror-filled, warped face".{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=35}} The latter was created when Carter found a video operator who was able to create the effect. The sequence was extremely popular and won the show its first Emmy Award, which was for Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences. Producer [[Paul Rabwin]] was particularly pleased with the sequence, and felt that it was something that had "never [been] seen on television before".<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonOne"/> In 2017, James Charisma of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' ranked the show's opening sequence #8 on a list of ''The 75 Best TV Title Sequences of All Time''.<ref name="Paste">{{cite magazine |title=The 75 Best TV Title Sequences of All Time |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/01/the-75-best-tv-title-sequences-of-all-time.html |author=Charisma, James |date=January 4, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2017}}</ref>

The premiere episode of season eight, "Within", revealed the first major change to the opening credits. Along with Patrick, the sequence used new images and updated photos for Duchovny and Anderson, although Duchovny only appears in the opening credits when he appears in an episode. Carter and the production staff saw Duchovny's departure as a chance to change things. The replacement shows various pictures of Scully's pregnancy. According to executive producer [[Frank Spotnitz]], the sequence also features an "abstract" way of showing Mulder's absence in the eighth season: he falls into an eye.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonEight">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] |year=2002 |section=The Truth Behind Season 8 |medium=DVD |title=[[The X-Files season 8|The X-Files: The Complete Eighth Season]] |publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Season nine featured an entirely new sequence. Since Anderson wanted to move on, the sequence featured Reyes and Skinner. Duchovny's return to the show for the ninth-season finale, "[[The Truth (The X-Files)|The Truth]]" marked the largest number of cast members to be featured in the opening credits, with five.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonNine"/> The revival seasons use the series' original opening credits sequence.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mipcom-new-x-files-wows-829845 |title=MIPCOM: New 'X-Files' Wows at World Premiere |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Scott |last=Roxborough |date=October 6, 2015 |access-date=March 8, 2018}}</ref>

The sequence ends with the tagline "The Truth Is Out There", which is used for the majority of the episodes.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=35}} For certain episodes, the tagline was changed to be more thematically-relevant; a list of the episodes that received alternate taglines is as follows:
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" 
! Episode
! Tagline
! Source
|-
|"[[The Erlenmeyer Flask]]"
|"Trust No One"
|{{sfn|Lowry|1995|p=156}}
|-
|"[[Ascension (The X-Files)|Ascension]]"
|"Deny Everything"
|{{sfn|Lovece|1996|p=120}}
|-
|"[[Anasazi (The X-Files)|Anasazi]]"
|"{{lang|nv|'éí 'aaníígÓÓ 'áhoot'é'}}"<br>("The truth is far from here" in [[Navajo language|Navajo]])
|{{sfn|Lovece|1996|p=176}}
|-
|"[[731 (The X-Files)|731]]"
|"Apology is Policy"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=731 |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=December 1, 1995}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Herrenvolk (The X-Files)|Herrenvolk]]"
|"Everything Dies"
|{{sfn|Meisler|1998|p=27}}
|-
|"[[Teliko]]"
|"Deceive Inveigle Obfuscate"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Teliko |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=October 18, 1996}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Terma (The X-Files)|Terma]]"
|"{{lang|it|E pur si muove}}"<br>("And still it moves" in [[Italian language|Italian]], a quote attributed to Galileo)
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Terma |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=December 1, 1996}}</ref>{{sfn|Meisler|1998|p=102}}
|-
|"[[Gethsemane (The X-Files)|Gethsemane]]"
|"Believe the Lie"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Gethsemane |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=May 18, 1997}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Redux (The X-Files)|Redux]]"
|"All Lies Lead to the Truth"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Redux |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=November 2, 1997}}</ref>
|-
|"[[The Red and the Black (The X-Files)|The Red and the Black]]"
|"Resist or Serve"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Red and the Black |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=March 8, 1998}}</ref>
|-
|"[[The End (The X-Files)|The End]]"
|"The End"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=The End |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=May 17, 1998}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Triangle (The X-Files)|Triangle]]"
|"{{lang|de|Die Wahrheit ist irgendwo da draußen}}"<br>("The truth is out there somewhere" in [[German language|German]])
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Triangle |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=November 22, 1998}}</ref>{{sfn|Meisler|2000|p=41}}
|-
|"[[The Unnatural (The X-Files)|The Unnatural]]"
|"In the Big Inning"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Unnatural |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=April 25, 1999}}</ref>
|-
|"[[The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati]]"
|"{{lang|la|Amor Fati}}"<br>("Love of fate" in [[Latin language|Latin]])
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Sixth Extinction II: Amor Fati |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=November 14, 1999}}</ref>{{sfn|Donaldson|2007|pp=8–9}}
|-
|"[[Closure (The X-Files)|Closure]]"
|"Believe to Understand"
|{{sfn|Shapiro|2001|p=139}}
|-
|"[[Nothing Important Happened Today|Nothing Important Happened Today II]]"
|"Nothing Important Happened Today"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Nothing Important Happened Today II |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=November 18, 2001}}</ref>
|-
|"[[4-D (The X-Files)|4-D]]"
|"erehT tuO si hturT ehT"<br>("The Truth is Out There", backwards)
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=4-D |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=December 9, 2001}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Trust No 1]]"
|"They're Watching"
|<ref>{{cite episode |credits=Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz (writers); Tony Wharmby (director) |title=Trust No 1 |series=The X-Files |season=9 |number=6 |airdate=January 6, 2002 |network=Fox}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Improbable (The X-Files)|Improbable]]"
|"{{lang|it|Dio ti ama}}"<br>("God loves you" in Italian)
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Improbable |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=April 7, 2002}}</ref>
|-
|"[[My Struggle II]]"
|"This Is the End"
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Review: 'The X-Files' Season 10 Episode 6, 'My Struggle II' Brings Us a Bitter End |url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/review-the-x-files-season-10-episode-6-my-struggle-ii-brings-us-a-bitter-end-20160223 |website=Indiewire |first=Liz Shannon |last=Miller |date=February 23, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
|-
|"[[My Struggle III]]"
|"I Want to Believe/I Want to Lie"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=My Struggle III |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=January 3, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|"[[This (The X-Files)|This]]"
|"Accuse Your Enemies of that Which You are Guilty"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=This |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=January 10, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Ghouli]]"
|"You See What I Want You to See"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Ghouli |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=January 31, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Kitten (The X-Files)|Kitten]]"
|"A War is Never Over"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Kitten |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=February 7, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Rm9sbG93ZXJz]]"
|"VGhlIFRydXRoIGlzIE91dCBUaGVyZQ="<br>("The Truth is Out There" in [[Base64]])
|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/02/x-files-season-11-episode-7-rm9sbg93zxjz-review-no-dialogue-followers-base64-spoilers-1201934001/ |title='The X-Files' Review: 'Rm9sbG93ZXJz' Keeps It Simple and Silent for a Creatively Daring Episode |website=IndieWire |first=Liz Shannon |last=Miller |date=February 28, 2018 |access-date=March 8, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|"[[Nothing Lasts Forever (The X-Files)|Nothing Lasts Forever]]"
|"I Want to be Beautiful"
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=Kitten |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|"[[My Struggle IV]]"
|"{{lang|la|Salvator Mundi}}"<br>("Savior of the World" in Latin)
|<ref>{{cite episode |title=My Struggle IV |series=The X-Files |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox.]] |date=March 21, 2018}}</ref>
|}

== Broadcast and release ==

=== Episodes ===
{{Main|List of The X-Files episodes|l1=List of ''The X-Files'' episodes}}

=== Nielsen ratings ===
{{Television season ratings
| hide_18_49_rating = y
| hide_18_49_rank   = y

| link1             = The X-Files season 1
| timeslot1         = Friday 9:00&nbsp;p.m.
| timeslot_length1  = 3
| episodes1         = 24
| start1            = {{Start date|1993|9|10}}
| startrating1      = 12.0<ref name=pilotrating>{{cite news|title=Smooth start for 'seaQuest DSV'|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|date=September 15, 1993|author=Gable, Donna}}</ref>
| end1              = {{End date|1994|5|13}}
| endrating1        = 14.0<ref name=erlenmeyerratings>{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|date=May 18, 1994}}</ref>
| season1           = 1993{{en dash}}94
| rank1             = 105<ref name="9495season"/>
| viewers1          = 11.21<ref name="9495season"/>

| link2             = The X-Files season 2
| episodes2         = 25
| start2            = {{Start date|1994|9|16}}
| startrating2      = 16.1<ref name=littlegreenrating>{{cite news|title='Girl' helps ABC start fall season on top|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|date=September 21, 1994|author=Gable, Donna}}</ref>
| end2              = {{End date|1995|5|19}}
| endrating2        = 16.6<ref name=anasazirating>{{cite news|title=Nielsen ratings|department=Life|work=[[USA Today]]|page=3D|date=May 24, 1995}}</ref>
| season2           = 1994{{en dash}}95
| rank2             = 63<ref name="9495season">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1995/04/28/abc-hits-home-run/ |title=ABC Hits a 'Home' Run |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=April 3, 2012 |date=April 28, 1995 |archive-date=March 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313235757/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,297031,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| viewers2          = 14.50{{sfn|Lowry|1996|p=249}}

| link3             = The X-Files season 3
| episodes3         = 24
| start3            = {{Start date|1995|9|22}}
| startrating3      = 19.94{{sfn|Lowry|1996|p=251}}
| end3              = {{End date|1996|5|17}}
| endrating3        = 17.86{{sfn|Lowry|1996|p=251}}
| season3           = 1995{{en dash}}96
| rank3             = 55<ref name=thirdseasonranking>{{cite news |title=Season Winner NBC Coasts, While CBS Outrates ABC |access-date=March 18, 2012 |newspaper=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]] |url=http://docs.newsbank.com.www2.lib.ku.edu:2048/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:PIPB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB5E068A5264629&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0F8479522BD09CA1 |date=May 30, 1996 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| viewers3          = 15.40{{sfn|Lowry|1996|p=249}}

| link4             = The X-Files season 4
| timeslot4         = Friday 9:00&nbsp;p.m. {{small|(1{{en dash}}3)}}<br />Sunday 9:00&nbsp;p.m. {{small|(4{{en dash}}24)}}
| episodes4         = 24
| start4            = {{Start date|1996|10|4}}
| startrating4      = 21.11{{sfn|Meisler|1998|p=298}}
| end4              = {{End date|1997|5|18}}
| endrating4        = 19.85{{sfn|Meisler|1998|p=298}}
| season4           = 1996{{en dash}}97
| rank4             = 12<ref name="9798season"/>
| viewers4          = 19.20{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=12}}

| link5             = The X-Files season 5
| timeslot5         = Sunday 9:00&nbsp;p.m.
| timeslot_length5  = 5
| episodes5         = 20
| start5            = {{Start date|1997|11|2}}
| startrating5      = 27.34{{sfn|Meisler|1999|p=284}}
| end5              = {{End date|1998|5|17}}
| endrating5        = 18.76{{sfn|Meisler|1999|p=284}}
| season5           = 1997{{en dash}}98
| rank5             = 11<ref name="9798season">{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/05/29/what-ranked-and-what-tanked/ |title=The Final Countdown |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=434 |date=May 29, 1998 |access-date=December 2, 2010 |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212121724/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,283382,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| viewers5          = 19.80{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=12}}

| link6             = The X-Files season 6
| episodes6         = 22
| start6            = {{Start date|1998|11|8}}
| startrating6      = 20.24{{sfn|Meisler|2000|p=294}}
| end6              = {{End date|1999|5|16}}
| endrating6        = 15.86{{sfn|Meisler|2000|p=294}}
| season6           = 1998{{en dash}}99
| rank6             = 12<ref name="9899season">{{cite magazine |title=TV Winners & Losers: Numbers Racket {{en dash}} A Final Tally Of The Season's Shows|url=http://search.ebscohost.com.www2.lib.ku.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f3h&AN=1910995&site=ehost-live|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=June 4, 1999|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| viewers6          = 17.20{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=12}}

| link7             = The X-Files season 7
| episodes7         = 22
| start7            = {{Start date|1999|11|7}}
| startrating7      = 17.82{{sfn|Shapiro|2001|p=281}}
| end7              = {{End date|2000|5|21}}
| endrating7        = 15.26{{sfn|Shapiro|2001|p=281}}
| season7           = 1999{{en dash}}2000
| rank7             = 29<ref name="9900season">{{cite web |url=https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=chart_pass&charttype=chart_topshows99&dept=TV |title=Top TV Shows For 1999{{en dash}}2000 Season | access-date=December 2, 2010 | work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=November 4, 2007 |publisher=[[Penske Business Media]]}}</ref>
| viewers7          = 14.20{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=146}}

| link8             = The X-Files season 8
| episodes8         = 21
| start8            = {{Start date|2000|11|5}}
| startrating8      = 15.87<ref name="staff2000">{{cite news |last=Staff |title=Campaign Ad Sales Outstrip Last Election's {{en dash}} Election 2000: Media|url=http://docs.newsbank.com.www2.lib.ku.edu:2048/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:AJBK&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EADA567E852C4CA&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0F8479522BD09CA1|access-date=March 8, 2012|newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution]]|date=November 8, 2000|page=E20|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
| end8              = {{End date|2001|5|20}}
| endrating8        = 14.01<ref name="relrat">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/41488110/|title=National Nielsen Viewership (May 14–20, 2001)|date=May 23, 2001|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=May 5, 2021|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}{{free access}}</ref>
| season8           = 2000{{en dash}}01
| rank8             = 31<ref name="0001season">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/06/01/bitter-end/ |title=The Bitter End |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=December 2, 2010 |date=June 1, 2001 |archive-date=July 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718141929/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,256435,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| viewers8          = 13.93{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=146}}

| link9             = The X-Files season 9
| episodes9         = 20
| start9            = {{Start date|2001|11|11}}
| startrating9      = 10.60{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=193}}
| end9              = {{End date|2002|5|19}}
| endrating9        = 13.25<ref name="seriesend">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2002/tv/news/peacock-struts-its-stuff-2-1117867346/ |title=Peacock struts its stuff |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=May 21, 2002 |last=Kissell |first=Rick |access-date=March 25, 2015}}</ref>
| season9           = 2001{{en dash}}02
| rank9             = 63{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=193}}
| viewers9          = 9.10<ref name="0102season">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/2002/2002-05-28-year-end-chart.htm |title=How Did Your Favorite Show Rate? |access-date=December 2, 2010 |date=May 28, 2002 |newspaper=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

| link10            = The X-Files season 10
| timeslot10        = Sunday 10:30&nbsp;p.m. {{small|(Premiere)}}<br />Monday 8:00&nbsp;p.m.
| episodes10        = 6
| start10           = {{Start date|2016|1|24}}
| startrating10     = 16.19<ref name=minipremratings>{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Rick |title=Sunday Final Ratings: 'X-Files' Adjusts Up by a Full Point |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/01/26/sunday-final-ratings-jan-24-2016/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127093143/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/01/26/sunday-final-ratings-jan-24-2016/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |website=[[TV by the Numbers]] |publisher=[[Zap2it]] |access-date=January 26, 2016 |date=January 26, 2016}}</ref>
| end10             = {{End date|2016|2|22}}
| endrating10       = 7.60<ref name=miniratings6>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/02/23/monday-final-ratings-feb-22-2016/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225054344/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2016/02/23/monday-final-ratings-feb-22-2016/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 25, 2016 |title=Monday Final Ratings: 'Bachelor' Adjusts Up, 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Adjusts Down |website=[[TV by the Numbers]] |date=February 23, 2016 |access-date=February 23, 2016 |last=Porter |first=Rick}}</ref>
| season10          = 2015{{en dash}}16
| rank10            = 7<ref name="entertainment2016" />
| viewers10         = 13.60<ref name="entertainment2016">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/05/tv-season-2015-2016-series-rankings-shows-full-list-1201763189/ |title=Full 2015{{en dash}}16 TV Season Series Rankings|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 26, 2015|access-date=May 26, 2015}}</ref>

| link11            = The X-Files season 11
| timeslot11        = Wednesday 8:00&nbsp;p.m.
| episodes11        = 10
| start11           = {{Start date|2018|1|3}}
| startrating11     = 5.15<ref name=mystruggleiii>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-jan-3-2018/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106063623/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-jan-3-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |title='Chicago PD' adjusts up, 'The X-Files' adjusts down: Wednesday final ratings |work=TV by the Numbers |first=Rick |last=Porter |date=January 5, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2018}}</ref>
| end11             = {{End date|2018|3|21}}
| endrating11       = 3.43<ref name=mystruggleiv>{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-march-21-2018/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323003122/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/wednesday-final-ratings-march-21-2018/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 23, 2018 |title='Survivor,' 'The Goldbergs' and 'Modern Family' adjust up, 'Speechless' adjusts down: Wednesday final ratings |work=TV by the Numbers |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>
| season11          = 2017{{en dash}}18
| rank11            = 91<ref name=201718rank>{{cite web |last1=de Moraes |first1=Lisa |last2=Hipes |first2=Patrick |title=2017–18 TV Series Ratings Rankings: NFL Football, 'Big Bang' Top Charts |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/2017-2018-tv-series-ratings-rankings-full-list-of-shows-1202395851/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=September 16, 2018 |date=May 22, 2018}}</ref>
| viewers11         = 5.34<ref name=201718rank/>
}}

The pilot premiered on September 10, 1993, and reached 12&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name=pilotrating/> As the season progressed, ratings began to increase and the season finale garnered 14&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name=erlenmeyerratings/> The first season ranked 105th out of 128 shows during the [[1993–94 United States network television schedule|1993{{en dash}}94]] television season.<ref name="9495season"/> The series' second season increased in ratings—a trend that would continue for the next three seasons—and finished 63rd out of 141 shows.<ref name="9495season"/> These ratings were not spectacular, but the series had attracted enough fans to receive the label "cult hit", particularly by Fox standards. Most importantly, it made great gains among the 18-to-49 age demographic sought by advertisers.<ref name="9495season"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Powers |first=William |title='X-Files': Signs of Intelligent Life; Cult Favorite Gains a Following Among the Masses |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-850904.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105225140/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-850904.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=December 1, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=September 17, 1995 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> During its [[1995–96 United States network television schedule|third year]], the series ranked 55th<ref name=thirdseasonranking/> and was viewed by an average of 15.40&nbsp;million viewers, an increase of almost seven percent over the second season, making it Fox's top-rated program in the 18{{en dash}}49-year-old demographic.{{sfn|Lowry|1996|p=249{{en dash}}50}} Although the first three episodes of the fourth season aired on Friday night, the fourth episode "[[Unruhe]]" aired on Sunday night. The show remained on Sunday until its end.{{sfn|Lowry|1996|p=249{{en dash}}50}} The season hit a high with its twelfth episode, "[[Leonard Betts]]", which was chosen as the [[List of Super Bowl lead-out programs|lead-out program]] following [[Super Bowl XXXI]]. The episode was viewed by 29.1&nbsp;million viewers, the series' highest-rated episode.{{sfn|Meisler|1998|p=298}} The fifth season debuted with "Redux I" on November 2, 1997, and was viewed by 27.34&nbsp;million people, making it the highest-rated non-special broadcast episode of the series.{{sfn|Meisler|1999|p=284}} The season ranked as the eleventh-most watched series during the [[1997–98 United States network television schedule|1997{{en dash}}98 year]], with an average of 19.8&nbsp;million viewers. It was the series' highest-rated season as well as Fox' highest-rated program during the 1997{{en dash}}98 season.{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p=12}}<ref name="9798season"/>

The sixth season premiered with "[[The Beginning (The X-Files)|The Beginning]]", watched by 20.24&nbsp;million viewers.{{sfn|Meisler|2000|p=294}} The show ended season six with lower numbers than the previous season, beginning a decline that would continue for the show's final three years.<ref name="9899season"/><ref name="9900season"/><ref name="0001season"/><ref name="0102season"/> ''The X-Files'' was nevertheless Fox's highest-rated show [[1998–99 United States network television schedule|that year]].<ref>Brownfield, Paul (August 28, 1999). "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-28-ca-4355-story.html Exploring the Unknown: 'X-Files' Future]". ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. Retrieved December 1, 2012.</ref> The seventh season, originally intended as the show's last, ranked as the 29th most-watched show for the [[1999–2000 United States network television schedule|1999{{en dash}}2000]] year, with 14.20&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name="9900season"/> This made it, at the time, the lowest-rated year of the show since the third season.{{sfn|Lowry|1996|p=249}}<ref name="9900season"/> The first episode of season eight, "Within", was viewed by 15.87&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name="staff2000" /> The episode marked an 11% decrease from the seventh season opener, "[[The Sixth Extinction (The X-Files)|The Sixth Extinction]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauder |first=David |title=NBC Out to Early Lead in Sweeps Competition |url=http://docs.newsbank.com.www2.lib.ku.edu:2048/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:APAB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F89CB20A59492FB&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0F8479522BD09CA1 |access-date=March 8, 2012 |newspaper=Associated Press Archive |date=November 7, 2000 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The first part of the ninth season opener, "[[Nothing Important Happened Today]]", only attracted 10.6&nbsp;million viewers, the series' lowest-rated season premiere.{{sfn|Kessenich|2002|p = 193}}

The original [[series finale]], "The Truth", attracted 13.25&nbsp;million viewers, the series' lowest rated season finale.<ref name="seriesend"/> The ninth season was the 63rd most-watched show for the [[2001–02 United States network television schedule|2001{{en dash}}02]] season, tying its season two rank.<ref name="9495season"/><ref name="0102season"/> On May 19, 2002, the finale aired and the Fox network confirmed that ''The X-Files'' was over.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonNine">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] |year=2002 |section=The Truth Behind Season 9 |medium=DVD |title=[[The X-Files season 9|The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season]] |publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}</ref> When talking about the beginning of the ninth season, Carter said, "We lost our audience on the first episode. It's like the audience had gone away and I didn't know how to find them. I didn't want to work to get them back because I believed what we are doing deserved to have them back."<ref>{{cite news |author=Goodman, Tim |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/01/18/DD209382.DTL&type=printable |title='X-Files' Creator Ends Fox Series |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=January 18, 2002 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> While news outlets cited declining ratings because of lackluster stories and poor writing,<ref name=botched>{{cite news |author=Weinbloom, Elizabeth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/02/arts/l-the-x-files-a-botched-romance-297232.html |title='The X-Files'; A Botched Romance |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 2, 2002 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> ''The X-Files'' production crew blamed [[September 11 attacks|September 11 terrorist attacks]] as the main factor.<ref>{{cite web |last=Newitz |first=Annalee |author-link=Annalee Newitz |title=Chris Carter Says 9/11 Killed X-Files |url=http://io9.com/360044/chris-carter-says-911-killed-x+files-but-america-is-ready-for-it-again |work=[[i09]] |publisher=[[Gawker Media]] |access-date=July 22, 2012 |date=February 23, 2008 |archive-date=August 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817060221/http://io9.com/360044/chris-carter-says-911-killed-x+files-but-america-is-ready-for-it-again |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the end of 2002, ''The X-Files'' had become the longest-running consecutive [[Science fiction television|science fiction series]] ever on American broadcast television. This record was later surpassed by ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' in 2007<ref name="BBC DOCWHO">{{cite news |title=Dr Who 'Longest-Running Sci-fi' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5390372.stm |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=September 28, 2006 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> and ''[[Smallville]]'' in 2011.<ref name=guinness>{{cite web |url=http://www.gateworld.net/news/2010/03/smallville-will-break-stargate-sg-1s-world-record/ |title=Smallville will break Stargate SG-1's world record |date=March 9, 2010 |publisher=GateWorld |access-date=May 19, 2010}}</ref>

The debut episode of the 2016 revival, "My Struggle", first aired on January 24, 2016, and was watched by 16.19&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name=minipremratings/> In terms of viewers, this made it the highest-rated episode of ''The X-Files'' to air since the eighth-season episode "[[This Is Not Happening (The X-Files)|This Is Not Happening]]" in 2001, which was watched by 16.9&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sepinwall |first=Alan |title=Blame it on Cable |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/s/InfoWeb/aggdocs/NewsBank/0EFD5CCC6E6B273B/0F8479522BD09CA1?s_lang=en-US |access-date=September 19, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Star-Ledger]] |date=March 1, 2001 |author2=Seitz, Matt Zoller |url-access=subscription }}</ref> When [[Digital video recorder|DVR]] and [[Streaming media|streaming]] are taken into account, "My Struggle" was seen by 21.4&nbsp;million viewers, scoring a 7.1 Nielsen rating.<ref name=biggerratings>{{cite magazine |last1=Hibberd |first1=James |title=X-Files Return Ratings Grow to Top its own Series Finale |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/29/x-files-ratings |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=January 29, 2016 |access-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> The season ended with "My Struggle II", which was viewed by 7.60&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name=miniratings6/> In total, the season was viewed by an average of 13.6&nbsp;million viewers; it ranked as the seventh most-watched television series of the 2015{{en dash}}16 year, making it the highest-ranked season of ''The X-Files'' to ever air.<ref name="entertainment2016" /> A few years later, the premiere episode of the eleventh season, "My Struggle III", was watched by 5.15&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name=mystruggleiii/> This was a decrease from the previous season's debut; it was also the lowest-rated premiere for any season of the show.<ref name=minipremratings/> The season concluded with "My Struggle IV", which was seen by 3.43&nbsp;million viewers, which was also a decrease from the previous season.<ref name=mystruggleiv/><ref name=miniratings6/> "My Struggle IV", which became the de facto finale for the series, was also the show's lowest-rated finale. In total, the season was viewed by an average of 5.34&nbsp;million viewers, and it ranked as the 91st most-watched television series of the 2018–19 year.<ref name=201718rank/>

==== SVOD viewership ====
According to the streaming aggregator [[JustWatch]], ''The X-Files'' was the ninth most streamed television series across all platforms in the United States, during the week ending November 7, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gruenwedel |first=Erik |date=November 8, 2021 |title=JustWatch: 'Free Guy,' 'Yellowstone' Top Weekly Streamed Movie, TV Show |url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/justwatch-free-guy-yellowstone-top-weekly-streamed-movie-tv-show/ |access-date=October 31, 2022 |website=Media Play News}}</ref>

=== Films ===
{{main|The X-Files (film)|The X-Files: I Want to Believe|l1=''The X-Files'' (film)|l2=''The X-Files: I Want to Believe''}}

After several successful seasons, Carter wanted to tell the story of the series on a wider scale, which ultimately turned into a feature film. He later explained that the main problem was to create a story that would not require the viewer to be familiar with the broadcast series.<ref name="Makingthefilm">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] |year=1998 |title=The Making of The X-Files Movie |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment|Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}</ref> The movie was filmed in the [[Recess (break)|hiatus]] between the show's [[The X-Files season 4|fourth]] and fifth seasons and re-shoots were conducted during the filming of the show's fifth season. Due to the demands on the actors' schedules, some episodes of the fifth season focused on just one of the two leads.<ref name="TheTruthBehind">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]], [[Vince Gilligan|Gilligan, Vince]], Shiban, John, [[Dean Haglund|Haglund, Dean]], [[Kim Manners|Manners, Kim]], [[Rob Bowman (filmmaker)|Bowman, Rob]], [[Frank Spotnitz|Spotnitz, Frank]], [[Veronica Cartwright|Cartwright, Veronica]], Rabwin, Paul, [[Mimi Rogers|Rogers, Mimi]] and [[R.W. Goodwin|Goodwin, R.W. "Bob"]] |year=1998 |section=The Truth Behind Season 5 |medium=DVD |title=[[The X-Files season 5|The X-Files: The Complete Fifth Season]] |publisher=Fox Home Entertainment}}</ref> On June 19, 1998, the eponymous ''The X-Files'', also known as ''The X-Files: Fight the Future'' was released. The crew intended the movie to be a continuation of the season five finale "[[The End (The X-Files)|The End]]", but it was also meant to stand on its own. The season six premiere, "The Beginning", began where the film ended.<ref name="fightthefuture">{{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Carter, Chris]] and [[Rob Bowman (filmmaker)|Bowman, Rob]] |year=2005 |title=Audio Commentary for ''The X-Files: Fight the Future'' |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}</ref>

The film was written by Carter and Spotnitz and directed by series regular [[Rob Bowman (filmmaker)|Rob Bowman]]. In addition to Mulder, Scully, Skinner and Cigarette Smoking Man, it featured guest appearances by [[Martin Landau]], [[Armin Mueller-Stahl]] and [[Blythe Danner]], who appeared only in the film. It also featured the last appearance of John Neville as the [[Well-Manicured Man]]. [[Jeffrey Spender]], [[Diana Fowley]], [[Alex Krycek]] and [[Gibson Praise]]—characters who had been introduced in the fifth-season finale and/or were integral to the television series—do not appear in the film. Although the film had a strong domestic opening and received mostly positive reviews from critics, attendance dropped sharply after the first weekend.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=x-filesfightthefuture.htm |title=The X-Files (1998) {{en dash}} Weekend Box Office Results |work= [[Box Office Mojo]], Amazon |access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> Although it failed to make a profit during its theatrical release—due in part to its large promotional budget—''The X-Files'' film was more successful internationally. Eventually, the worldwide theatrical [[box office]] total reached $189&nbsp;million. The film's production cost and ad budgets were each close to $66&nbsp;million.<ref name="bom">{{cite web |title=The X-Files |work=Box Office Mojo, Amazon |access-date=July 31, 2009 |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=x-filesfightthefuture.htm}}</ref> Unlike in the series, Anderson and Duchovny received equal pay for the film.<ref name="fightthefuture"/>

In November 2001, Carter decided to pursue a second film adaptation. Production was slated to begin after the ninth season, with a projected release in December 2003.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/316/316083p1.html |title=''X-Files'' Cast and Crew Talk New Movie & New Season |work=[[IGN]] |date=September 10, 2001 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> In April 2002, Carter reiterated his desire and the studio's desire to do a sequel film. He planned to write the script over the summer and begin production in spring or summer 2003 for a 2004 release.<ref>{{cite news |author=Smith, Christopher |url=http://www.mania.com/carter-sheds-light-xfiles-2_article_33957.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813212027/http://www.mania.com/carter-sheds-light-xfiles-2_article_33957.html |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |title=Carter Sheds Light on X-Files 2 |publisher=[[Kuwait National Cinema Company]] |work=Cinescape |date=April 11, 2002 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> Carter described the film as independent of the series, saying, "We're looking at the movies as stand-alones. They're not necessarily going to have to deal with the mythology."<ref>{{cite news |last=Linder, Brian |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/358/358982p1.html |title=Carter Talks ''X-Files'' Sequel |work=[[IGN]] |date=May 9, 2002 |access-date=February 9, 2011}}</ref> Bowman, who had directed various episodes of ''The X-Files'' in the past as well as the 1998 film, expressed an interest in the sequel, but Carter took the job. Spotnitz co-authored the script with Carter.<ref name="Province"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mania.com/bowman-spills-reign-fire-xfiles-2-hopes_article_34916.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813211846/http://www.mania.com/bowman-spills-reign-fire-xfiles-2-hopes_article_34916.html |archive-date=August 13, 2014 |title=Bowman Spills It On Reign of Fire, X-Files 2 Hopes |publisher=Mania.com |date=June 18, 2002 |access-date=March 17, 2012}}</ref> ''[[The X-Files: I Want to Believe]]'' became the second film based on the series, after 1998's ''The X-Files: Fight the Future''. Filming began in December 2007 in Vancouver and finished on March 11, 2008.<ref name="Province"/><ref name=fox>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/news/fox-sets-date-for-x-files-sequel-1117975124/ |title=Fox sets date for 'X-Files' sequel |first1=Pamela |last1=McClintock |first2=Tatiana |last2=Siegel |work=Variety |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=March 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="CP">{{cite web |url=http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jlLsYyF1dQuhzxXy2YyQ2Tc88fBA |title=Duchovny and Two Co-Writers Announce New X-Files Feature film |date=March 12, 2008 |agency=[[Canadian Press]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316214809/http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jlLsYyF1dQuhzxXy2YyQ2Tc88fBA |archive-date=March 16, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The film was released in the United States on July 25, 2008, grossing $4&nbsp;million on its opening day.<ref name="finke">{{cite news |author=Finke, Nikki |url=http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/amazing-dark-knight-run-continues-stepbrothers-big-x-files-bombs/ |title='Dark Knight $314.2M In 10 Days: Keeps Smashing Record After Record; 'Step Brothers' Big; 'X-Files 2' Bombs |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 25, 2008 |access-date=September 5, 2009}}</ref> It opened fourth on the U.S. weekend box office chart, with a gross of $10.2&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Weekend Box Office Results for July 25{{en dash}}27, 2008 |url= https://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2008&wknd=30&p=.htm |work= Box Office Mojo, Amazon |access-date= December 2, 2012}}</ref> By the end of its theatrical run, it had grossed $20,982,478 domestically and an additional $47,373,805 internationally, for a total worldwide gross of $68,369,434.<ref>{{cite web |title=The X-Files: I Want to Believe |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/XFIL2.php |website=The Numbers |access-date=December 2, 2012 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018112623/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/XFIL2.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Among 2008 domestic releases, it finished in 114th place.<ref>{{cite web |title=2008 Domestic Gross |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?page=2&view=releasedate&view2=domestic&yr=2008&p=.htm |work=[[Box Office Mojo]], Amazon |access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref> The film's stars both claimed that the timing of the movie's release, a week after the highly popular [[Batman]] film ''[[The Dark Knight]]'', negatively affected its success.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Liam |title=David Duchovny Blames Disappointing X-Files Box Office on The Dark Knight |url=http://filmonic.com/david-duchovny-blames-disappointing-x-files-box-office |website=Filmonic.com |access-date=December 2, 2012 |date=August 1, 2008 |archive-date=February 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223101821/http://filmonic.com/david-duchovny-blames-disappointing-x-files-box-office |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kilkelly |first=Daniel |title='X-Files' Star Reflects On Film's Performance |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a118923/x-files-star-reflects-on-films-performance.html |work=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=December 2, 2012 |date=August 4, 2008}}</ref> The film received mixed to negative reviews. [[Metacritic]], which assigns a rating out of 100 reviews from mainstream film critics, reported "mixed or average" reviews, with an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 47 based on 33 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-x-files-i-want-to-believe |title=The X Files: I Want to Believe |work=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=September 11, 2009}}</ref> [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that 32% of 160 listed film critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 10. The website wrote of the critics' consensus, stating, "The chemistry between leads David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson do live [sic] up to ''The X-Files''{{'}} televised legacy, but the roving plot and droning routines make it hard to identify just what we're meant to believe in."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/x_files_2/ |title=The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=September 11, 2009}}</ref>

=== Revival ===
{{Main|The X-Files season 10|The X-Files season 11|l1=''The X-Files'' season 10|l2=''The X-Files'' season 11}}
In several interviews around the release, Carter said that if the ''X-Files: I Want to Believe'' film proved successful at the box office, a third installment would be made going back to the TV series' mythology, focusing specifically on the alien invasion and colonization of Earth foretold in the ninth-season finale, due to occur on [[2012 phenomenon|December 22, 2012]].<ref name=thirdbelieve>{{cite news |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2008/04/18/chris-carter-wa/ |title='X-Files' Creator Chris Carter Wants to Believe in a Third Movie Featuring Mulder and Scully |author=Clark Collis |newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=April 18, 2008 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-date=May 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503101833/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2008/04/18/chris-carter-wa/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/895/895378p1.html |title=Carter Already Planning ''X-Files 3'' |author=Parfitt, Orlando |work=[[IGN]] |date=July 31, 2008 |access-date=October 14, 2009}}</ref> In an October 2009 interview, David Duchovny likewise said he wanted to do a 2012 ''X-Files'' movie, but did not know if he would get the chance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1035816p1.html |title=Duchovny on ''X-Files 3'' |author=Vejvoda, Jim |work=[[IGN]] |date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=October 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/david-duchovny-talks-gay-crushes-and-a-possible-x-files-sequel/story-e6frfmvr-1225985310023 |title=David Duchovny Talks Gay Crushes and a Possible X-Files Sequel |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |date=January 11, 2011 |access-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027015032/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/david-duchovny-talks-gay-crushes-and-a-possible-x-files-sequel/story-e6frfmvr-1225985310023 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Anderson stated in August 2012 that a third ''X-Files'' film is "looking pretty good".<ref>{{cite news |last=Marcus |first=Stephanie |title=Gillian Anderson: 'X-Files 3' Movie Is 'Looking Pretty Good' |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/gillian-anderson-x-files-3-movie_n_1833518.html |access-date=September 4, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> As of July 2013, Fox had not approved the movie, although Carter, Spotnitz, Duchovny and Anderson expressed interest.<ref name="collider">{{cite web |last=Radish |first=Christian |title=Writer/Producer Frank Spotnitz Talks His Desire to Make a Third X-Files Movie and the Possibility of a Millennium Movie |url=https://collider.com/the-x-files-3-sequel-frank-spotnitz/ |work=Collider |publisher=Toplingo |access-date=September 4, 2012 |date=August 2, 2012 |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904111817/http://collider.com/the-x-files-3-sequel-frank-spotnitz/185861/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='X-Files' Movie: David Duchovny Is In |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/12/x-files-movie-david-duchovny_n_1770682.html |access-date=September 4, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=August 12, 2012}}</ref> At the [[New York Comic Con]] held October 10{{en dash}}13, 2013, Duchovny and Anderson reaffirmed that they and Carter were interested in making a third film, with Anderson saying, "If it takes fan encouragement to get Fox interested in that, then I guess that's what it would be."<ref>{{cite news |title=David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson Want to Reunite for Third 'X-Files' Movie |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/duchovny-anderson-reunite-3rd-x-files-movie-article-1.1484745 |access-date=October 14, 2013 |work=[[New York Daily News]] |agency=Associated Press |date=October 14, 2013}}</ref>

On January 17, 2015, Fox confirmed that they were looking at the possibility of bringing ''The X-Files'' back, not as a movie, but as a limited run television season. Fox chairman [[Dana Walden]] told reporters that "conversations so far have only been logistical and are in very early stages", and that the series would only go forward if Carter, Anderson, and Duchovny were all on board, and that it was a matter of ensuring all of their timetables are open.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox Confirms 'X-Files' Reboot Talks, David Duchovny & Gillian Anderson To Return: Update |url=https://deadline.com/2015/01/x-files-reboot-talks-fox-1201352465/ |website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=January 17, 2015 |access-date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> On March 24, 2015, it was confirmed the series would return with series creator Chris Carter and lead actors David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.<ref name="revival">{{cite web |title='The X-Files' Returns As Fox Event Series With Creator Chris Carter And Stars David Duchovny & Gillian Anderson |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/x-files-returns-fox-event-series-david-duchovny-gillian-anderson-chris-carter-1201397721/ |website=Deadline Hollywood.com |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=March 24, 2015 |access-date=March 24, 2015}}</ref><ref name="TXFReturnsFOX">{{cite web |title=The Next Mind-Bending Chapter Is Coming!: 'The X-Files' returns to FOX |date=March 24, 2015 |url=http://www.fox.com/the-x-files/article/the-next-mind-bending-chapter-is-coming |publisher=Fox Broadcasting Company |access-date=March 26, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326085806/http://www.fox.com/the-x-files/article/the-next-mind-bending-chapter-is-coming |archive-date=March 26, 2015 }}</ref> It premiered on January 24, 2016.<ref name="revival premiere">{{cite web |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |title=Fox Fall Schedule: ''Scream Queens'' Takes Tuesday Crown, ''Sleepy'' Rises on Thursday, ''X-Files'' Held 'Til January |url=http://tvline.com/2015/05/11/fox-fall-tv-schedule-scream-queens-tuesday-x-files-midseason/ |website=TVLine |access-date=May 11, 2015 |date=May 11, 2015}}</ref> A year later, on April 20, 2017, Fox officially announced that ''The X-Files'' would be returning for an [[The X-Files season 11|eleventh season]] of ten episodes,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/x-files-returns-event-series-fox-1202073290/ |title='The X-Files' Coming Back Again For New Event Series Next Season |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Dominic |last=Patten |date=April 20, 2017 |access-date=April 21, 2017}}</ref> which premiered on January 3, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvline.com/2017/11/15/the-x-files-season-11-premiere-date-poster-fox/ |title=The X-Files Season 11 Gets January Premiere Date — See First Poster |website=TVLine |first=Kimberly |last=Roots |date=November 15, 2017 |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref>

=== Future ===
In January 2018, Gillian Anderson confirmed that season 11 would be her final season of ''The X-Files''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/gillian-anderson-confirms-the-x-files-exit/ |title=Gillian Anderson Confirms She's Leaving The X-Files |first=Lindsay |last=MacDonald |date=January 10, 2018 |work=TV Guide|access-date=January 11, 2018}}</ref> The following month, Carter stated in an interview that he could see the show continuing without Anderson.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-x-files/interviews/a849103/x-files-chris-carter-season-11-gillian-anderson/ |title=X-Files' Chris Carter interview: 'The X-Files has more life in it – with or without Gillian Anderson' |first=Mayer |last=Nissim |website=Digital Spy |date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2018}}</ref> In May 2018, Fox's co-CEO Gary Newman commented that "there are no plans to do another season at the moment."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvline.com/2018/05/14/the-x-files-season-12-update-canceled-fox-gillian-anderson/ |title=X-Files: Fox Has 'No Plans' for a Season 12 Following Gillian Anderson Exit |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |website=TVLine |date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=June 6, 2018}}</ref>

In October 2020, Chris Carter said: "I always thought there would be even more ''X-Files''." He admitted that continuing the series at this point with Duchovny and Anderson is unlikely, but has plans to continue the franchise with an upcoming animated spinoff. "Being that Gillian has decided to move on with her career, we certainly couldn't do Mulder and Scully again. But that's not to say there isn't another way to do ''The X-Files''. And so right now I think the future is unwritten." The rights are now owned by [[Disney]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Chris|last=Longo|date=October 16, 2020|title=The X-Files Creator Chris Carter "Sorry" For How Series Ended|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-x-files-chris-carter-season-12-unresolved-storylines/|access-date=February 20, 2021|website=Den of Geek|language=en-US}}</ref> By July 2025, [[Ryan Coogler]] was writing and producing a reboot of the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=2025-07-03 |title=Marvel's Black Panther 3 Director Ryan Coogler Responds to Questions Around Ironheart's Future, Whether Its Characters Might Return, and a Potential Season 2: 'I Don't Know Jack S**t' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/marvels-black-panther-3-director-ryan-coogler-responds-to-questions-around-ironhearts-future-whether-its-characters-might-return-and-a-potential-season-2-i-dont-know-jack-st |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

== Home media ==
{{further|The X-Files merchandise|l1=''The X-Files'' merchandise}}

On September 24, 1996, the first "wave" set of ''The X-Files'' [[VHS|VHS tapes]] were released. Wave sets were released covering the first through fourth seasons.<ref name=merch>{{cite web |title=Video & DVDs {{en dash}} 1|url=http://www.xfilesmerchandise.com/videoanddvds1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120022010/http://www.xfilesmerchandise.com/videoanddvds1.html|archive-date=November 20, 2012|publisher=X-Files Merchandise|url-status=usurped|access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The X-Files {{en dash}} Wave 8 Triple Pack (1993)|asin=6305809453}}</ref> Each "wave" was three VHS tapes, each containing two episodes, for a total of six episodes per wave and two waves per season.<ref name=part1season1/><ref name=season12>{{cite book |title=The X-Files {{en dash}} Wave 2 Triple Pack (1993)|asin=6304153805}}</ref> For example, the home video release of wave one drew from the first half of the first season: "Pilot"/"Deep Throat", "Conduit"/"Ice" and "Fallen Angel"/"Eve".<ref name=part1season1/> Each wave was also available in a boxed set.<ref name=merch/> Unlike later DVD season releases, the tapes did not include every episode from the seasons. Ultimately twelve episodes—approximately half the total number aired—were selected by Carter to represent each season, including nearly all "mythology arc" episodes and selected standalone episodes.<ref name=part1season1/><ref name=season12/> Carter briefly introduced each episode with an explanation of why the episode was chosen and anecdotes from the set. These clips were later included on the full season DVDs.<ref name=part1season1>{{cite book |title=The X-Files {{en dash}} Wave 1, Triple Pack (1993)|asin=6304153791}}</ref> Wave eight, covering the last part of the fourth season, was the last to be released. No Carter interviews appeared on DVDs for later seasons. Many of the waves had collectible cards for each episode.<ref>{{cite web |title=VHS Wave Art |url=http://www.eatthecorn.com/dossiers/waveart.htm |publisher=Eatthecorn.com |access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref>

All nine seasons were released on DVD along with the two films.<ref name=dvdcollection/><ref>{{cite web |title=The X-Files Movie 2-Pack (Fight the Future / I Want to Believe) (2010) |website=Amazon |date=December 2, 2008 |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001G7PSZI |access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref> Seasons 1 to 4 were in fullscreen and seasons 5 and onward were in widescreen with the top and bottom of the opening credits cropped off. It is not widely known how accurate this is to the original broadcasts. The entire series was re-released on DVD in early 2006, in a "slimmer" package. The first five slim case versions did not come with some bonus materials that were featured in the original fold-out versions. However, seasons six, seven, eight and nine all contained the bonus materials found in the original versions.<ref>For the various seasons and their special features, see:
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Robert Mandel]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete First Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOH986/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[David Nutter]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Second Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOH98G/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[R. W. Goodwin]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Third Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOH990/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[R. W. Goodwin]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Fourth Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CNE0SS/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[R. W. Goodwin]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Fifth Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CNE0T2/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Kim Manners]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Sixth Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CNE0TC/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Kim Manners]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Seventh Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EXDS34/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Kim Manners]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Eighth Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EXDS3E/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Kim Manners]] |year=2006 |title=The X-Files: The Complete Ninth Season |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EXDS3Y/ |format=Slim case |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Episodic DVDs have also been released in [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]], such as "[[Deadalive]]", "[[Existence (The X-Files)|Existence]]", "Nothing Important Happened Today", "[[Providence (The X-Files)|Providence]]" and "The Truth".<ref>For the episode DVDs, see:
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Tony Wharmby]] |year=2001 |title=The X Files: Deadalive |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005LAFA/ |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Kim Manners]] |year=2001 |title=The X Files: Existence |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005NOMF/ |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Kim Manners]] |year=2001 |title=The X Files: Nothing Important Happened Today |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005UWTJ/ |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Chris Carter (screenwriter)|Chris Carter]] |year=2002 |title=The X Files: Providence |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00006G9WL/ |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}
* {{Cite AV media |people=[[Kim Manners]] |year=2002 |title=The X Files: The Truth |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00007J359/ |medium=DVD |publisher=[[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Various other episodes were released on DVD and VHS. In 2005, four DVD sets were released containing the main story arc episodes of ''The X-Files''. The four being ''[[The X-Files Mythology, Volume 1 – Abduction|Volume 1 {{en dash}} Abduction]]'', [[The X-Files Mythology, Volume 2 – Black Oil|''Volume 2 {{en dash}} Black Oil'']], [[The X-Files Mythology, Volume 3 – Colonization|''Volume 3 {{en dash}} Colonization'']] and [[The X-Files Mythology, Volume 4 – Super Soldiers|''Volume 4 {{en dash}} Super Soldiers'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/X-Files/3505 |title=The X-Files – More Mythology sets coming soon |author=Lacey, Gord |date=June 7, 2005 |work=TVShowsOnDVD |access-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518045342/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/X-Files/3505 |archive-date=May 18, 2012 }}</ref> A boxed set containing all nine seasons and the first film was made available in 2007, which contains all of the special features from the initial releases. The set also includes an additional disc of new bonus features and various collectibles, including a poster for the first film, a comic book, a set of collector cards and a guide to all 202 episodes across all nine seasons and the first film. Due to the fact that the set was released in 2007, the second film, which was released in 2008, is not included.<ref name=dvdcollection>{{cite web |title=The X-Files: The Complete Collector's Edition (1998) |website=Amazon |date=November 6, 2007 |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UZDO5I/ |access-date=December 2, 2012}}</ref>

Release of ''The X-Files''{{'}} seasons on [[Blu-ray]], restored in high-definition, was rumored to begin in late 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hunt |first=Bill |title=Is Fox Bringing The X-Files to BD in 2013 as Well? |url=http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/the-rumor-mill/is-fox-bringing-x-files-to-blu-in-2013 |publisher=The Digital Bits |access-date=January 12, 2013 |date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> The German TV channel [[ProSieben Maxx]] began airing first-season episodes reformatted in widescreen and in high-definition on January 20, 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Zarges |first=Torsten |title=Neue US-Ware: So Sill ProSieben Maxx 2014 Wachsen |url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/43814/neue_usware_so_will_prosieben_maxx_2014_wachsen/ |publisher=DWDL.de |access-date=February 23, 2014 |date=October 12, 2013}}</ref> On April 23, 2015, [[Netflix]] began streaming episodes of ''The X-Files'' in high definition, marking the first time that the series has been made available in the high resolution format in North America.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lopatto |first=Elizabeth |title=Netflix Begins Streaming The X-Files in HD |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/4/23/8486441/netflix-begins-streaming-the-x-files-in-hd |website=The Verge |access-date=May 8, 2015 |date=April 23, 2015}}</ref> In October 2015, it was confirmed that the complete series would be reissued on Blu-ray, and the full set was released on December 8, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/X-Files-Collectors-Box-Set-Blu-ray/21609 |title=The X-Files – Fox Confirms 'Complete' Blu-ray Release; Provides Package Art |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com |first=David |last=Lambert |date=October 6, 2015 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008042413/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/X-Files-Collectors-Box-Set-Blu-ray/21609 |archive-date=October 8, 2015 }}</ref> The set was criticized for using the wrong fonts for the title sequence and season 8 was affected by color balance issues making the picture appear darker in most episodes (an issue known as "black crush"). These issues led to Fox offering corrected discs and eventually issuing new sets with the correct color balance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/934107-review-x-files-collectors-set |title=Review: The X-Files: The Collector's Set |last=Seibold |first=Witney |publisher=CraveOnline |date=December 15, 2015|access-date=February 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/X-Files-Season-8/21942 |title=The X-Files – Exchange Program for Issue with 'Season 8' Blu-ray Discs **UPDATED** |last=Lambert |first=David |website=TVShowsOnDVD.com |date=January 27, 2016|access-date=February 13, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004035122/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/X-Files-Season-8/21942 |archive-date=October 4, 2016 }}</ref>

== Spin-offs ==
=== ''The Lone Gunmen'' ===
''[[The Lone Gunmen (TV series)|The Lone Gunmen]]'' is an American science fiction television series created by Carter and broadcast on Fox and was crafted as a more humorous spin-off of ''The X-Files''. The series starred the eponymous Lone Gunmen and was first broadcast in March 2001, during ''The X-Files''{{'}}s month-long hiatus.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=49}} Although the debut episode garnered 13.23&nbsp;million viewers, its ratings began to steadily drop.<ref name="firstthree">{{cite news |last=Kissell |first=Rick |title=Eye Hoops March On |url=https://www.lexisnexis.com/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?lni=42KV-Y4P0-0006-03Y5&csi=140595&hl=t&hv=t&hnsd=f&hns=t&hgn=t&oc=00240&perma=true |access-date=November 29, 2012 |newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Business Media]] |date=March 19, 2001 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The program was cancelled after thirteen episodes.<ref>{{cite news |title=TV Sound Off |url=http://docs.newsbank.com.www2.lib.ku.edu:2048/s/InfoWeb/aggdocs/NewsBank/0F33F616CF5751BE/0F8479522BD09CA1?s_lang=en-US |access-date=March 9, 2013 |newspaper=[[Corpus Christi Caller-Times]] |publisher=[[The E.W. Scripps Company]] |date=March 18, 2001 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The last episode was broadcast in June 2001 and ended on a cliffhanger which was partially resolved in a ninth-season episode of ''The X-Files'' titled "[[Jump the Shark (The X-Files)|Jump the Shark]]", included in the DVD release of the series.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=206}}

=== Comic books ===
{{Main|The X-Files (comics)|The X-Files Season 10 (comics)|The X-Files Season 11 (comics)|l1=''The X-Files'' (comics)|l2=''The X-Files Season 10'' (comics)|l3=''The X-Files Season 11'' (comics)}}
''The X-Files'' was converted into a [[The X-Files (comics)|comic book series]] published by [[Topps Comics]] during the show's third and fourth seasons. The initial comic books were written solely by [[Stefan Petrucha]]. According to Petrucha, there were three types of stories: "those that dealt with the characters, those that dealt with the conspiracy, and the monster-of-the-week sort of stuff".<ref name=comix /> Petrucha cited the latter as the easiest to write. Petrucha saw Scully as a "scientist [...] with real world faith", and that the difference between [Mulder and Scully] is not that Mulder believes and Scully doesn't; it's more a difference in procedure."<ref name=comix /> In this manner, Mulder's viewpoint was often written to be just as valid as Scully's, and Scully's science was often portrayed to be just as convincing as Mulder's more outlandish ideas.<ref name=comix /> Petrucha was eventually fired and various other authors took up the job.<ref name=comix>{{cite magazine |last=Vitaris |first=Paula |title=The X-Files: Stefan Petrucha on His Struggle to Create a Comic Book Worthy of the Show |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |date=October 1997 |volume=29 |issue=4/5}}</ref> Topps published 41 regular issues of ''The X-Files'' from 1995{{en dash}}98.

A [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover]] graphic novel between ''The X-Files'' and ''[[30 Days of Night]]'' was published by [[WildStorm]] in 2010. It follows Mulder and Scully to Alaska as they investigate a series of murders that may be linked to vampires.{{sfn|Niles|Jones|2010|pp=1{{en dash}}144}}

In 2013, it was announced that ''The X-Files'' would return to comic book form with ''[[The X-Files Season 10 (comics)|Season 10]]'', now published by [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]. The series, which follows Mulder and Scully after the events of ''[[The X-Files: I Want to Believe]]'', was released in June 2013. Joe Harris wrote the series, and Michael Walsh and Jordie Bellaire provided the artwork. It was later announced that Carter himself would be the executive producer for the series and would be "providing feedback to the creative team regarding scripts and outlines to keep the new stories in line with existing and on-going canon."<ref name=season10comics /> The series restarted the series' mythology, and the first arc of the story focused on "seek[ing] to bring the mythology of the Alien Conspiracy back up to date in a more paranoid, post-terror, post-[[WikiLeaks]] society."<ref name=season10comics /> In addition, sequels to popular "monster of the week" episodes were made.<ref name=season10comics>{{cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Sophie |title=The X-Files Season 10: What You Need To Know |url=http://archive.wired.com/geekmom/2013/03/x-files-season-10-guide/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]], Condé Nast |access-date=March 9, 2013 |date=March 5, 2013}}</ref> ''The X-Files Season 10'' concluded on July 1, 2015, after 25 issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tfaw.com/series/X-Files |title=TFAW.com: Home > Series > X Files |work=tfaw.com |access-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702025330/http://www.tfaw.com/series/X-Files |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In August 2015, the ''[[The X-Files Season 11 (comics)|X-Files Season 11]]'' comic book began, also published by IDW. The eight-issue series served as a continuation of the TV show.  Chris Carter was the Executive Producer of the comic book series, while the issues were written by [[Joe Harris (filmmaker)|Joe Harris]] and illustrated by [[Matthew Dow Smith]] and [[Jordie Bellaire]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/joe-harris-takes-mulder-on-the-run-in-idws-x-files-season-11 |title=Joe Harris Takes Mulder on the Run in IDW's "X-Files: Season 11" |website=Comic Book Resources |first=TJ |last=Dietsch |date=June 18, 2015 |access-date=August 16, 2015 |archive-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809120811/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/joe-harris-takes-mulder-on-the-run-in-idws-x-files-season-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 	
=== Potential series ===
In August 2020, Fox announced that an animated comedy-oriented reboot series was in development, under the working title ''The X-Files: Albuquerque''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/x-files-animated-comedy-series-fox-1234752625/ |title='X-Files' Animated Comedy Series in Development at Fox |website=Variety |first=Joe |last=Otterson |date=August 28, 2020 |access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref> In March 2023, it was confirmed the series would not be moving forward.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2023/03/28/the-x-files-albuquerque-cancelled-fox-animated-series-spinoff/ |title=The X-Files Albuquerque: Animated Spinoff Not Moving Forward at Fox |website=TVLine |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 29, 2023}}</ref> The same month, it was reported that [[Ryan Coogler]] is developing a new reboot of the series, per series creator Chris Carter.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2023/03/28/the-x-files-reboot-ryan-coogler-new-cast/ |title=The X-Files Returns? Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler Eyes 'Diverse' Reboot of Classic Sci-Fi Series |website=TVLine |first=Kimberly |last=Roots |date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 29, 2023}}</ref> In February 2024, Carter confirmed he is not involved with its production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roots |first=Kimberly |date=2024-02-27 |title=The X-Files Creator Chris Carter Reveals His Level of Involvement in Ryan Coogler's 'Diverse' Reboot |url=https://tvline.com/news/the-x-files-reboot-chris-carter-not-involved-ryan-coogler-1235174873/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=TVLine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Knolle |first=Sharon |date=2024-02-27 |title=X-Files Creator Chris Carter Gives Ryan Coogler Reboot His Blessing |url=https://www.thewrap.com/x-files-reboot-ryan-coogler-chris-carter-blessing/ |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2025, Coogler said the ''X-Files'' reboot would be his next project after the film ''[[Sinners (2025 film)|Sinners]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeremy |date=2025-04-18 |title=Sinners Director Shares Exciting Update on His X-Files Reboot, Original Star's Return Teased |url=https://www.cbr.com/the-x-files-reboot-ryan-coogler-update/ |access-date=2025-09-23 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref> and he began working on the project by October of that year; Coogler said that he chose to work on the project due to his mother's love for the original series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malkin |first=Marc |date=2025-10-20 |title=Ryan Coogler on Screening 'Sinners' in a Cemetery, Michael B. Jordan Oscar Buzz and Rebooting 'X-Files' for His Mom: 'I Want to Do Right by Her and the Fans' |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/columns/ryan-coogler-michael-b-jordan-sinners-oscars-buzz-x-files-reboot-1236555889/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Critical reception ===
''The X-Files'' received positive reviews from television critics, with many calling it one of the best series that aired on American television in the 1990s. Ian Burrell from the British newspaper ''[[The Independent]]'' called the show "one of the greatest cult shows in modern television".<ref>{{cite news |author=Burrell, Ian |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/exfiles-no-longer-partners-once-more-457708.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228030328/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/exfiles-no-longer-partners-once-more-457708.html |title=Ex-Files No Longer: Partners Once More |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=July 17, 2007 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 |access-date=August 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |location=London}}</ref> [[Richard Corliss]] from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine called the show the "cultural [[Touchstone (metaphor)|touchstone]] of" the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |author=Corliss, Richard |author-link=Richard Corliss |url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,986144,00.html |title=A Star Trek into the X-Files |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=April 7, 1997 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref> Hal Boedeker from the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' said in 1996 that the series had grown from a [[Cult following|cult favorite]] to a television "classic".<ref>Boedeker, Hal (May 17, 1996). "Having Grown From a Cult Favorite to a Classic, 'The X-Files' Wraps Up Its 3rd Season". ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' ([[Tribune Company]]). Retrieved August 18, 2009.</ref> The ''[[Evening Herald]]'' said the show had "overwhelming influence" on television, in front of such shows as ''[[The Simpsons]]''.<ref>{{cite news |author=McManus, Darragh |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/x-hits-the-spot/27880105.html |title=X Hits the Spot |publisher=[[Independent News & Media]] |newspaper=[[Evening Herald]] |date=July 26, 2008 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref> In 2012, ''Entertainment Weekly'' listed the show at #4 in the "25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years", describing it as "a paean to oddballs, sci-fi fans, conspiracy theorists and Area 51 pilgrims everywhere. Ratings improved every year for the first five seasons, while Mulder and Scully's believer-versus-skeptic dynamic created a TV template that's still in heavy use today."<ref>{{cite news |title=25 Best Cult TV Shows from the Past 25 Years |newspaper=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=August 3, 2012 |pages=37{{en dash}}38}}</ref>

In 2004 and 2007, ''The X-Files'' ranked #2 on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s "Top Cult Shows Ever".<ref name="top cult">{{cite web |title=TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239.aspx |work=[[TV Guide]] |access-date=June 29, 2007 |date=July 27, 1998}}</ref> In 2002, the show ranked as [[TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time|the 37th best television show of all time]].<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/ |work=[[CBS News]] |publisher=[[CBS Corporation]] |date=April 26, 2002 |access-date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> In 1997, the episodes "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" and "Small Potatoes" respectively ranked #10 and #72 on "[[TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time]]".<ref>{{cite magazine |year=1997 |title=Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |issue=June 28 {{en dash}} July 4 }}</ref> In 2013, ''TV Guide'' included it in its list of the "60 Greatest Dramas of All Time"<ref>Roush, Matt (February 25, 2013). "Showstoppers: The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time". ''[[TV Guide]]''. pp. 16{{en dash}}17.</ref> and ranked it as the #4 science fiction show<ref>{{citation|title=TV Guide|date=September 16–22, 2013}}</ref> and the #25 best series of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/ |website=[[TV Guide]] |first1=Bruce |last1=Fretts |first2=Matt |last2=Roush |access-date=October 19, 2015 |date=December 23, 2013}}</ref> In 2007, ''Time'' included it on a list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Best TV Shows of All-TIME |url=http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/the-x-files/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022130310/http://entertainment.time.com/2007/09/06/the-100-best-tv-shows-of-all-time/slide/the-x-files/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2011 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=September 6, 2007}}</ref> In 2008, ''Entertainment Weekly'' named it the fourth-best piece of science fiction media,<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Pastorek, Whitney |title=The Sci-Fi 25: The Genre's Best Since 1982 |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036782_20037403_20037541_22,00.html |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |year=2003 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211212050/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20037541_22%2C00.html |archive-date=December 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the fourth best TV show in the last 25 years<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The New Classics: TV |url=https://ew.com/article/1992/03/20/article-99/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424115846/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207076_20207387_20207339,00.html |archive-date=April 24, 2012 |year=2008 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2009, named it the fourth-best in their list of the "20 Greatest Sci-fi TV Shows" in history.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=20 Greatest Sci-fi TV Shows |url=https://www.ew.com/gallery/20-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows/368759 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=September 30, 2009 |access-date=October 4, 2009 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152357/http://www.ew.com/gallery/20-greatest-sci-fi-tv-shows/368759 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' magazine ranked ''The X-Files'' ninth best TV show in history, further claiming that the best episode was the third season entry "[[Jose Chung's From Outer Space]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=The X-Files: 1993{{en dash}}2002 | url=https://www.empireonline.com/50greatesttv/default.asp?tv=9 | work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|publisher=[[Bauer Consumer Media]] | access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref> In 2013, the [[Writers Guild of America]] ranked ''The X-Files'' #26 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013}}</ref> In 2015, on ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'''s entertainment-industry ranked TV list "Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows", ''The X-Files'' appeared at #3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919022923/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-ever-top-819499|title=Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group ([[Valence Media]])|date=September 16, 2015|archive-date=September 19, 2015|access-date=March 24, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', MediaDNA research discovered that ''The X-Files'' was on top of the list of the most innovative TV brands.<ref>{{cite news |title=What the MediaDNA Research Found |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/mar/13/advertising.pressandpublishing |date=March 13, 2003 |access-date=July 23, 2009 |location=London}}</ref> In 2009, it was announced that the show's catchphrase "The Truth Is Out There" was among Britain's top 60 best-known slogans and quotes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Forsyth's Winning Words |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/204699.stm |work=BBC |date=October 30, 1998 |access-date=August 17, 2009}}</ref>

''The X-Files'' has been criticized for being unscientific and privileging [[paranormal]] and [[supernatural]] ideas (e.g. the hypotheses made by Mulder). For instance, in 1998, [[Richard Dawkins]] wrote that "''The X-Files'' systematically purveys an anti-rational view of the world which, by virtue of its recurrent persistence, is insidious."<ref>{{cite book |last=Dawkins |first=Richard |title=Unweaving the Rainbow |year=1998 |isbn=9780618056736 |page=28|publisher=Houghton Mifflin }}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{{Main|List of accolades received by The X-Files|l1=List of accolades received by ''The X-Files''}}
''The X-Files'' received prestigious awards over its nine-year run, totaling 62 Emmy nominations and 16 awards.<ref name=emmys/>{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} Capping its successful first season, ''The X-Files'' crew members James Castle, Bruce Bryant and Carol Johnsen won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Main Title Design|Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences]] in 1994.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} In 1995, the show was nominated for seven Emmy Awards with one win. The following year, the show won five Emmys out of eight nominations, including [[Darin Morgan]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]. In 1997, ''The X-Files'' won three awards out of twelve, including [[Gillian Anderson]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series]]. In 1998, the show won one of fifteen. In 1999, it won one out of eight in the category for Outstanding Makeup for a Series. Season seven won three Emmys from six nominations. The following season would not be as successful, catching only two nominations and winning again in the Makeup category for "Deadalive". The ninth season received one nomination in Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore).<ref name=emmys>{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/x-files |title=The X-Files |access-date=February 4, 2016 |work=Emmys.com |publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}

The show was nominated for 12 [[Golden Globe Awards]] overall, winning five.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}<ref name=goldenglobes/> The first nomination came in 1994, when the show won Best Series {{en dash}} Drama.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} The following year, Anderson and Duchovny were nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Actress in a Leading Role, respectively.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}<ref name=goldenglobes/> In 1997, the series won three awards; Anderson and Duchovny for Best Actress and Actor and for Best Series {{en dash}} Drama.{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}} In 1998 and 1999, the show received the same three nominations. In 1998 the series won Best Series {{en dash}} Drama".{{sfn|Hurwitz|Knowles|2008|p=241}}<ref name=goldenglobes/> In 1999, the series won no award and received no nominations thereafter.<ref name=goldenglobes>{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/x-files |title=X-Files, The |work=GoldenGlobes.com |publisher=[[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] |access-date=February 4, 2016}}</ref>

The show was nominated for 14 [[Screen Actors Guild Award|SAG Awards]] overall, winning twice. In 1996 and 1997, Anderson won for [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series#1990s|Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series]]. In 1996, the show won a [[Peabody Award]] for being able "to convey ideas that are both entertaining and thought-provoking".<ref>{{cite web |title=The X-Files |url=http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-x-files |publisher=[[Peabody Awards]] |access-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref> The show has also been nominated for two [[American Cinema Editors]] awards, three [[Directors Guild of America#DGA Awards|Directors Guild of America Awards]], nine [[TCA Awards|Television Critics Association Awards]] and two [[Writers Guild of America Award|Writers Guild of American Awards]]. ''The X-Files'' was nominated for nine [[Satellite Award]]s, winning two, and two [[Young Artist Award]]s, winning one.<ref name=awardnoms>For information regarding show award nominations and wins, see:
* {{harvnb|Lowry|1995|p=257}}
* {{harvnb|Lowry|1996|pp=253{{en dash}}57}}
* {{harvnb|Meisler|1998|p=296}}
* {{harvnb|Meisler|1999|p=282}}
* {{harvnb|Meisler|2000|p=292}}
* {{harvnb|Shapiro|2001|p=280}}</ref>

== Influence ==

=== Fandom ===

As ''The X-Files'' saw its viewership expand from a "small, but devoted" group of fans to a worldwide mass cult audience,<ref name="Xerox Files" /><ref>{{cite news |author=Gumbel andrew |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mystery-over-bigscreen-return-of-the-xfiles-801781.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331202906/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mystery-over-bigscreen-return-of-the-xfiles-801781.html |archive-date=March 31, 2008 |title=Mystery Over Big-Screen Return of 'The X-Files' |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=March 28, 2008 |access-date=August 17, 2009 |location=London}}</ref> [[Digital data|digital]] [[telecommunications]] were becoming mainstream. According to ''The New York Times'', "this may have been the first show to find its audience growth tied to the growth of the Internet".<ref name="NYT#Two">{{cite news |author=Millman, Joyce |title=The Nearly Ex Files |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 19, 2005 |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/10/1034061299444.html}}</ref> Fans of the show became commonly known as "X-Philes", a term coined from the Greek root "-phil-" meaning love or obsession.<ref name="NYT#Two"/> X-Philes reviewed episodes on unofficial [[websites]], formed communities with other fans through [[Usenet]] [[newsgroup]]s and [[listserv]]s,<ref name="metroactive">{{cite news |author=Davis, Rachel Leibrock |title=The X-Phile Facts |work=[[Metro Silicon Valley|Metroactive]] |date=July 25–31, 1996 |url= http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.25.96/xfiles-9630.html | access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> and wrote their own [[fan fiction]].<ref name="study"/>

''The X-Files'' also "caught on with viewers who wouldn't ordinarily consider themselves sci-fi fans".<ref name="Xerox Files"/> While Carter argued that the show was plot-driven, many fans saw it as character-driven.<ref name="study"/> Duchovny and Anderson were characterized as "Internet [[sex symbol]]s".<ref name="NYT#Two"/> As the show grew in popularity, subgroups of fans developed, such as "[[shipping (fandom)|shippers]]", hoping for a romantic or sexual partnership between Mulder and Scully, or those who already perceived one between the lines.<ref name="study"/> The usage of the term "ship" in its relationship sense appears to have been originated by Internet fans of ''The X-Files''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/how-the-x-files-helped-shape-modern-fandom-including-shipping|title=How The X-Files helped shape modern fandom — including shipping|date=March 20, 2018|website=[[SYFY]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306231135/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/how-the-x-files-helped-shape-modern-fandom-including-shipping|archive-date=March 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{OED|ship, n.3}}</ref><ref>{{OED|shipper, n.2}}</ref><ref>{{OED|shipping, n.2}}</ref><ref>{{OED|ship, v.2}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Morton|first=Ella|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/126715/x-files-i-want-believe-posters-origin-story|title=The X-Files "I Want to Believe" Poster's Origin Story|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|date=December 29, 2015|access-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521112011/https://newrepublic.com/article/126715/x-files-i-want-believe-posters-origin-story|archive-date=May 21, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Zimmer|first=Ben|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-the-x-files-returns-so-do-shippers-1454098144|title=As the 'X-Files' Returns, So Do 'Shippers'|website=[[Wall Street Journal]]|date=January 29, 2016|access-date=May 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903065708/https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-the-x-files-returns-so-do-shippers-1454098144|archive-date=September 3, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other groups arose to pay tribute to the stars<ref name="metroactive"/> or their characters,<ref name="st">Sarah R. Wakefield. {{"'}}[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01956050109601018 Your Sister in St. Scully': An Electronic Community of Female Fans of The X-Files—Critical Essay]". ''[[Journal of Popular Film and Television]]'', Fall 2001.</ref> while others joined the subculture of "[[slash fiction|slash]]" fiction.<ref name="study"/> In the summer of 1996, a journalist wrote, "There are entire forums online devoted to the 'M/S' [Mulder and Scully] relationship."<ref name="metroactive"/> In addition to "MOTW", Internet fans invented acronyms such as "UST", meaning "unresolved sexual tension", and "COTR", standing for "conversation on the rock"—referencing a popular scene in the third-season episode "[[Quagmire (The X-Files)|Quagmire]]"—to aid in their discussions of the agents' relationship, which was itself identified as the "MSR".{{sfn|Lavery|1995|pp=36{{en dash}}51}}

The producers did not endorse some fans' readings, according to a study on the subject: <blockquote>Not content to allow Shippers to perceive what they wish, Carter has consistently reassured NoRomos [those against the idea of a Mulder/Scully romance] that theirs is the preferred reading. This allows him the plausible deniability to credit the show's success to his original plan even though many watched in anticipation of a romance, thanks, in part, to his strategic [[polysemy]]. He can deny that these fans had reason to do so, however, since he has repeatedly stated that a romance was not and would never be.</blockquote> The Scully-obsessed writer in Carter's 1999 episode "Milagro" was read by some as his [[alter ego]], realizing that by this point "she has fallen for Mulder despite his authorial intent".<ref name="study">{{cite news |author=Scodari, Christine |author2=Felder, Jenna L. |title=Creating a Pocket Universe: 'Shippers', Fan Fiction and The X-Files Online |work=Communication Studies |year=2000}}</ref> The writers sometimes paid tribute to the more visible fans by naming minor characters after them. For example, Leyla Harrison, played by Jolie Jenkins and introduced in the eighth-season episode "[[Alone (The X-Files)|Alone]]", was created and named in memory of an Internet fan and prolific writer of fan fiction of the same name, who died of cancer on February 10, 2001.<ref name="TheTruthBehindSeasonEight"/>

=== Merchandise ===
{{Main|The X-Files merchandise|The X-Files literature|l1=''The X-Files'' merchandise|l2=''The X-Files'' literature}}

''The X-Files'' spawned an industry of spin-off products. In 2004, U.S.-based [[Topps Comics]], and<ref name="comix"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/x-hits-spot-comics-article-1.677759 |title=X Hits Spot in Comics, Too |author=Bianculli, David |date=March 6, 1995 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> most recently [[DC Comics]] imprint [[Wildstorm]], launched a new series of licensed tie-in comics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16784 |title=Spotnitz Wants to Believe in Wildstorm's "The X-Files Special" |author=Renaud, Jeffrey |date=June 12, 2008 |work=Comic Book Resources |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> During the series run, the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] published the official ''The X-Files Magazine''.<ref>O'Donnel, Maureen (June 25, 1997) "UFO Lore Alive in Chicago Area". ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. Retrieved July 27, 2009.</ref> [[The X-Files Collectible Card Game|''The X-Files'' Collectible Card Game]] was released in 1996, and an expansion set was released in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2139/x-files |title=X-Files CCG |work=BoardGameGeek |access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref> 

''The X-Files'' has inspired four [[video game]]s. In 1997, [[Fox Interactive]] released ''[[The X-Files: Unrestricted Access]]'', a game-style database for Windows and Mac, which allowed users access to every case file.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/1998/04/10/x-files-unrestricted-access/ |title=The X-Files: Unrestricted Access |author=Flaherty, Mike |date=April 10, 1998 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-date=September 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925002744/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,282565,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1998, ''[[The X-Files Game]]'' was released for the [[Personal computer|PC]] and [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]] and a year later for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]. This game is set within the timeline of the second or third season and follows an Agent Craig Willmore in his search for the missing Mulder and Scully.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9806/19/xfiles.game/ |title=Computer X-Files: The Game is Out There |author=Baxter, Steve |date=June 19, 1998 |work=[[CNN]] |publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411141111/http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/computing/9806/19/xfiles.game/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2004, ''[[The X-Files: Resist or Serve]]'' was released. The survival-horror game for the [[PlayStation 2]] is an original story set in the seventh season. It allows the player control of both Mulder and Scully. Both games feature acting and voice work from members of the series' cast.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article449465.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614222858/http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article449465.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |title=X-Files: Resist or Serve |author=McNamara, John |date=June 26, 2004 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=July 27, 2009 |location=London}}</ref> A mobile mystery investigation game ''[[The X-Files: Deep State]]'' was released in February 2018. The story of the game takes place between seasons 9 and 10 of the show and follows two FBI agents, Casey Winter and Garret Dale, as they investigate a conspiracy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/x-files-mobile-game-2018-1202624853/ |title='X-Files: Deep State' Alien-Invasion Mystery Game on Tap for February 2018 Release |website=Variety |first=Todd |last=Spangler |date=November 28, 2017|access-date=May 14, 2018}}</ref> A six-player [[pinball]] game, ''The X-Files'', was produced by [[Sega]] in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=4137 |title=The X Files |publisher=The Internet Pinball Database |access-date=January 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Tilt Is Out There |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=101 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=December 1997 |page=228}}</ref>

=== Legacy ===
{{see also|The X-Files (franchise)|l1=''The X-Files'' (franchise)}}
[[File:Mulder´s office.jpg|thumb|right|The set for Mulder's office]]
''The X-Files'' directly inspired other TV series, including ''[[Strange World (TV series)|Strange World]]'',<ref name="Xerox Files">{{cite web |author=Millman, Joyce |title=The X • E • R • O • X Files |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]] |url=http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/mill/1999/03/08mill.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315095936/http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/mill/1999/03/08mill.html |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=March 8, 1999 |archive-date=March 15, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Wertheimer, Ron |title=Television Review: Caught in the Trap Of Science Run Amok |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/08/arts/television-review-caught-in-the-trap-of-science-run-amok.html |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=March 8, 1999}}</ref> ''[[The Burning Zone]]'',<ref>{{cite news |author=Caryn, James |title=A Virus That Speaks Of a Deadly World Plot |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/03/arts/a-virus-that-speaks-of-a-deadly-world-plot.html |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=September 3, 1996}}</ref> ''[[Special Unit 2]]'',<ref name=ripped/> ''[[Mysterious Ways (TV series)|Mysterious Ways]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Bonin, Liane |title=NBC's Only New Hit May Go to Another Network |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |url=https://ew.com/article/2000/08/14/nbcs-only-new-hit-may-go-another-network/ |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=August 14, 2000 |archive-date=June 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605231451/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,85446,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'',<ref name=xfileslost>{{cite magazine |title=Throwdown! 22 Pop-Culture Fights |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20183260,00.html |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=December 3, 2012 |date=August 9, 2008 |archive-date=May 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524172553/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20183260,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Dark Skies]]'',<ref name=ripped/><ref>{{cite web |last=Faraci |first=Devin |title=It's Time To Bring Back Dark Skies, The X-Files Meets Mad Men Show |url=http://badassdigest.com/2011/01/06/its-time-to-bring-back-dark-skies-the-x-files-meets-mad-men-show/ |work=Badass Digest |access-date=December 3, 2012 |date=January 6, 2011}}</ref> ''[[The Visitor (TV series)|The Visitor]]'',<ref name = "Xerox Files" /> ''[[Fringe (TV series)|Fringe]]'',<ref name=ripped/><ref>{{cite web |author=Surette, Tim |title=Fringe vs. The X-Files vs. Reality |work=[[TV.com]] |url=http://www.tv.com/news/fringe-vs-the-x-files-vs-reality-14726/ |access-date=January 1, 2010 |date=May 12, 2009 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728120257/http://www.tv.com/news/fringe-vs-the-x-files-vs-reality-14726/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[Warehouse 13]]'',<ref name=ripped>{{cite web |last=Moore |first=Trent |title=13 Supernatural TV Series That (Lovingly) Ripped Off the X-Files |url=http://blastr.com/2012/02/13-shows-that-lovingly-ri.php |work=[[Blastr]] |access-date=December 3, 2012 |date=February 21, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]]'',<ref name=ripped/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/11/supernaturals-very-x-files-moment-the-truth-is-in-there.html |title='Supernatural's Very 'X-Files' Moment: The Truth is in There |work=[[Zap2it]] |first=Carina Adly |last=MacKenzie |date=November 17, 2010 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518112536/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/11/supernaturals-very-x-files-moment-the-truth-is-in-there.html |archive-date=May 18, 2012 }}</ref> and ''[[Gravity Falls]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zalben |first1=Alex |title=Interview: Alex Hirsch Returns To His Weird, Monster-Filled Childhood In Disney's 'Gravity Falls' |url=http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/06/15/alex-hirsch-disney-channel-gravity-falls-interview/ |website=[[MTV]].com |access-date=March 27, 2015 |date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921094447/http://geek-news.mtv.com/2012/06/15/alex-hirsch-disney-channel-gravity-falls-interview/ |archive-date=September 21, 2013 }}</ref> with key aspects carried over to more standard crime dramas, such as ''[[Eleventh Hour (American TV series)|Eleventh Hour]]''<ref name=ripped/><ref>{{cite web |first=Katarzyna|last=Olechnowicz |title=Is Eleventh Hour The New X-Files? |work=[[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] |url=https://www.amc.com/talk/2007/09/is-eleventh-hou |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403102251/http://blogs.amctv.com/movie-blog/2007/09/is-eleventh-hou/ |access-date=June 4, 2020 |date=September 19, 2007}}</ref> and ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rosen, Steven |title='Bones,' From the Heap of Tired Ideas |work=Media Life Magazine |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/News2005/sep05/sept12/2_tues/news4tuesday.html |access-date=July 27, 2009 |date=September 13, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930163624/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/News2005/sep05/sept12/2_tues/news4tuesday.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref> The influence can be seen on other levels: television series such as ''Lost'' developed their own complex mythologies.<ref name=xfileslost/> In terms of characterization, the role of Dana Scully was seen as innovative, changing "how women [on television] were not just perceived but behaved" and perhaps influencing the portrayal of other "strong women" investigators.<ref name="twentyohsix"/> [[Russell T Davies]] said ''The X-Files'' had been an inspiration on his series ''[[Torchwood]]'', describing it as "dark, wild and sexy... ''The X-Files'' meets ''[[This Life (1996 TV series)|This Life]]''".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-to-screen-dr-who-for-adults-as-new-spinoff-show-511239.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605040136/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/bbc-to-screen-dr-who-for-adults-as-new-spinoff-show-511239.html |author=Burrell, Ian |title=BBC to Screen 'Dr Who For Adults' as New Spin-Off Show |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=October 17, 2005 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |access-date=August 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/17/torch.shtml |title=Captain Jack to Get His Own Series in New Russell T Davies Drama for BBC Three |work=BBC |date=November 17, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2009}}</ref> Other shows have been influenced by the tone and mood of ''The X-Files''. For example, ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' drew from the mood and coloring of ''The X-Files'', as well as from its occasional blend of horror and humor; creator [[Joss Whedon]] described his show as "a cross between ''The X-Files'' and ''[[My So-Called Life]]''".<ref>{{cite news |author=Marshall, Rick |url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/52646/7-things-we-should-thank-x-files |title=7 Things We Should Thank The X-Files For |work=Mental Floss |date=January 18, 2015 |access-date=March 5, 2015}}</ref>

''The X-Files'''s great popularity led to it becoming a touchstone of [[popular culture]]. The show was parodied in ''The Simpsons'' [[The Simpsons season 8|season eight]] episode "[[The Springfield Files]]", which aired on January 12, 1997. In it, Mulder and Scully—voiced by Duchovny and Anderson—are sent to Springfield to investigate an alien sighting by [[Homer Simpson]], but end up finding no evidence other than Homer's word and depart. Cigarette Smoking Man appears in the background when Homer is interviewed, and the show's theme plays during one scene.<ref>{{cite episode |episode-link=The Springfield Files |title=The Springfield Files |series=The Simpsons |series-link=The Simpsons |credits=[[Steven Dean Moore]] (director); [[Reid Harrison]] (writer) |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] |season=8 |number=10}}</ref> Nathan Ditum from ''[[Total Film]]'' ranked Duchovny and Anderson's performances as the fourth-best guest appearances in ''The Simpsons'' history.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-20-best-simpsons-movie-star-guest-spots/ |title=The 20 Best Simpsons Movie-Star Guest Spots |last=Ditum |first=Nathan |date=March 29, 2009 |work=[[Total Film]] |access-date=August 6, 2009}}</ref> In the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[Trials and Tribble-ations]]", [[Benjamin Sisko]] is interviewed by [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] Department of Temporal Investigations agents Dulmer and Lucsly, anagrams of Mulder and Scully, respectively.{{sfn|Meehan|2005|p=115}} The pair were later expanded upon in [[Christopher L. Bennett]]'s book ''Watching the Clock''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trekmovie.com/2011/06/24/book-review-star-trek-department-of-temporal-investigations-watching-the-clock/ |title=Book Review: Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations: Watching the Clock |publisher=TrekMovie.com |first=Robert |last=Lyons |date=June 24, 2011 |access-date=August 14, 2012}}</ref> ''The X-Files'' has also been parodied or referenced in shows such as ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]'', ''[[Archer (2009 TV series)|Archer]]'', ''[[NewsRadio]]'', ''[[American Horror Story]]'', ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', ''Bones'', ''[[Breaking Bad]]'', ''[[Californication (TV series)|Californication]]'' (which stars David Duchovny), ''[[Supernatural (American TV series)|Supernatural]]'', ''[[Castle (TV series)|Castle]]'', ''[[Family Guy]]'', ''[[Hey Arnold!]]'', ''[[King of the Hill]]'', ''[[South Park]]'', and ''[[Two and a Half Men]]''.<ref name=salonecho>{{cite web |last1=Gorenstein |first1=Colin |title=The "X-Files" Echo Effect: Here's Proof That the Legendary Series Never Actually Left Us |url=http://www.salon.com/2015/03/25/the_x_files_echo_effect_heres_proof_that_the_legendary_series_never_actually_left_us/ |website=[[Salon.com]] |access-date=March 27, 2015 |date=March 25, 2015}}</ref> It also inspired themes in video games ''[[Deus Ex (video game)|Deus Ex]]''<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Postmortem: Ion Storm's ''Deus Ex'' |page=50 |magazine=[[Game Developer (magazine)|Game Developer]] |publisher=[[UBM TechWeb]] |url=http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_November_2000.pdf |access-date=July 4, 2014 |last1=Spector |first1=Warren |author-link=Warren Spector |date=November 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928191910/http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_November_2000.pdf |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[Perfect Dark]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CxpdspOV5I  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/7CxpdspOV5I| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Rare Revealed: The Making of Perfect Dark |work=Rare |date=December 24, 2015 |access-date=December 26, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In the musical realm, the British band [[Catatonia (band)|Catatonia]] released the single "[[Mulder and Scully (song)|Mulder and Scully]]", which became a top ten hit on the [[UK Singles Chart]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite news |author=Rawson-Jones, Ben |title=Cult Nostalgia: 'The X-Files' (1993{{en dash}}2002) | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/news/a38626/cult-nostalgia-the-x-files-1993-2002.html | work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=October 30, 2006 | access-date=August 18, 2009}}</ref> American singer and songwriter [[Bree Sharp]] wrote a song in 1999 called "[[David Duchovny (song)|David Duchovny]]" about the actor that heavily references the show. Although never a mainstream hit, the song became popular underground and gained a cult following.<ref name=cnn>{{cite web |last=Freydkin |first=Donna |title=Sharp Owes Her Fame to a Secret Agent Man |url=http://articles.cnn.com/1999-07-27/entertainment/9907_27_bree.sharp_1_evil-girl-bree-sharp-video?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119084831/http://articles.cnn.com/1999-07-27/entertainment/9907_27_bree.sharp_1_evil-girl-bree-sharp-video?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |work=[[CNN Entertainment]] |access-date=October 15, 2012 |date=July 27, 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bree Sharp Taking 'David Duchovny' To Lilith Fair |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1431205/bree-sharp-taking-david-duchovny-to-lilith-fair/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011813/http://www.mtv.com/news/1431205/bree-sharp-taking-david-duchovny-to-lilith-fair/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2018 |publisher=[[MTV]] |date=August 6, 1999 |access-date=October 15, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Roeper |first=Richard |title=This Musical Confection Holds Your Attention |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4507650.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921122253/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4507650.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2012 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=August 16, 1999 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Finnish band [[Sonata Arctica]] released, in 1999, "Letter to Dana", in which the title character, Dana O'Hara, is named after Scully.<ref name=metalrules>{{cite web|author1=EvilG |author2=Luxi|title=Metal Rules!!: Interview with Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/SonataArctica2001.htm|website=Metal-Rules|access-date=12 March 2021|date=17 November 2001}}</ref> The series has also been referenced in songs such as "[[The Bad Touch]]" by the [[Bloodhound Gang]], "A Change" by [[Sheryl Crow]], "Year 2000" by [[Xzibit]], and "[[One Week (song)|One Week]]" by [[Barenaked Ladies]].<ref name=salonecho/>

Carter, Duchovny and Anderson celebrated the 20th anniversary of the series at a July 18, 2013, panel at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] hosted by ''TV Guide''. During the discussion, Anderson discussed Scully's influence on female fans, relating that a number of women have informed her that they pursued physics careers because of the character. Anderson also indicated that she was not in favor of an ''X-Files'' miniseries, and Duchovny ruled out working with her on an unrelated project, but both expressed willingness to do a third feature film. Carter was more reserved at the idea, stating, "You need a reason to get excited about going on and doing it again."<ref>{{cite news |title=A Very Special ''X-Files'' Reunion |newspaper=[[TV Guide]] |author=Keck, William |date=July 29, 2013 |page=6}}</ref> On July 16, 2008, Carter and Spotnitz donated several props from the series and new film to the Smithsonian's [[National Museum of American History]], including the original pilot script and the "I Want to Believe" poster from Mulder's office.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://americanhistory.si.edu/news/pressrelease.cfm?key=29&newskey=729 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630182627/http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/news/pressrelease.cfm?key=29&newskey=729 |archive-date=June 30, 2011 |title=Smithsonian Wants to Believe! National Museum of American History Acquires X-Files Collection |publisher=[[National Museum of American History]] |date=July 16, 2008 |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref>

In a 2018 interview with ''[[The Straits Times]]'', series' writers Jim Wong and Glenn Morgan acknowledged that the show likely played a role in bringing [[conspiracy theories]] to a mainstream audience, helping to erode trust in public institutions.<ref>{{cite news |last1=de Souza |first1=Alison |title=How X-Files brought conspiracy theories into mainstream culture |website=[[The Straits Times]] |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/how-x-files-brought-conspiracy-theories-into-mainstream-culture |date=January 31, 2018 |access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref> Similarly, in a 2021 ''[[New York Times]]'' op-ed, series creator Chris Carter wrote: {{"'}}The Truth Is Out There,' 'Trust No One,' 'Deny Everything' went the provocative catchphrases on ''The X-Files'', but that was in the '90s, when we had a relatively shared reality. The slogans are now a fact of life."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carter |first=Chris |date=June 25, 2021 |title=I Created ''The X-Files''. Here's Why I'm Skeptical of the New U.F.O. Report. |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/25/opinion/chris-carter-aliens-ufo-xfiles.html |access-date=May 15, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' writer Jordan Hoffman suggested that Carter's op-ed was imbued with "a bit of a ''mea culpa'' vibe".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Jordan |date=June 26, 2021 |title='X-Files' Creator Wants You to Chill Out on the Conspiracy Theories |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/06/x-files-creator-wants-you-to-chill-out-on-the-conspiracy-theories |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin|40em}}
* {{Cite book |last=Delsara |first=Jan |title=PopLit, PopCult and The X-Files: A Critical Exploration |publisher=[[McFarland & Company]] |location=[[Jefferson, NC]] |year=2000 |isbn=9780786407897 }}
* {{cite book |last=Donaldson |first=Amy |editor=Yang, Sharon |title=The X-Files and Literature: Unweaving the Story, Unraveling the Lie to Find the Truth |year=2007 |publisher=[[Cambridge Scholars Publishing]] |location=[[Newcastle upon Tyne]], England |isbn=9781847182395 |chapter=The Last Temptation of Mulder }}
* {{cite book |last=Duncan |first=Jody |title=The Making of ''The X-Files'' Movie |publisher=[[Harper Prism]] |location=[[New York City]], NY |year=1998 |isbn=9780061073168 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/makingofxfilesfi00dunc }}
* {{Cite book |title=X-Files Confidential |first=Ted |last=Edwards |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |location=[[Boston]], MA|year=1996 |isbn=9780316218085 |url=https://archive.org/details/xfilesconfidenti00edwa_0 }}
* {{cite book |year=1999 |first1=Louisa |last1=Gradnitzer |first2=Todd |last2=Pittson |title=X Marks the Spot: On Location with The X-Files |publisher=[[Arsenal Pulp Press]] |location=[[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]] |isbn=9781551520667 |url=https://archive.org/details/xmarksspotonloca00loui }}
* {{Cite book |title=The Complete X-Files |first1=Matt |last1=Hurwitz |first2=Chris |last2=Knowles |publisher=Insight Editions |location=[[San Rafael, CA]] |year=2008 |isbn=9781933784724 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Kessenich |first=Tom |title=Examinations: An Unauthorized Look at Seasons 6–9 of "The X-Files" |publisher=[[Trafford Publishing]] |location=[[Bloomington, IN]] |year=2002 |isbn=9781553698128 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/examinationsunau0000kess }}
* {{cite book |title=The Philosophy of The X-Files |year=2007 |publisher=[[University Press of Kentucky]] |location=[[Lexington, KY]] |isbn=9780813124544 |last=Kowalski |first=Dean A. |chapter=Freedom and Worldviews in ''The X-Files'' }}
* {{Cite book |year=1995 |first=David |last=Lavery |title=Deny All Knowledge: Reading the X-Files |publisher=[[Syracuse University Press]] |location=[[Syracuse, NY]] |isbn=9780815604075 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/denyallknowledge0000lave }}
* {{cite book |year=1996 |last=Lovece |first=Frank |title=The X-Files Declassified |publisher=Citadel Press |location=[[Secaucus]], NJ|isbn=9780806517452 |url=https://archive.org/details/xfilesdeclassifi00love }}
* {{cite book |year=1995 |last=Lowry |first=Brian |title=The Truth is Out There: The Official Guide to the X-Files |url=https://archive.org/details/truthisoutthere00lowr |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Harper Prism]] |location=[[New York City]], NY |isbn=9780061053306 }}
* {{cite book |year=1996 |last=Lowry |first=Brian |title=Trust No One: The Official Guide to the X-Files |url=https://archive.org/details/trustnooneoffici00lowr |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Harper Prism]] |location=[[New York City]], NY |isbn=9780061053535 }}
* {{cite book |last=Meehan |first=Eileen R. |title=Why TV Is Not Our Fault: Television Programming, Viewers and Who's Really in Control |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |location=[[Lanham, MD]] |date=November 3, 2005 |isbn=9780742524866}}
* {{cite book |year=2000 |last=Meisler |first=Andy |title=The End and the Beginning: The Official Guide to the X-Files Volume 5 |isbn=9780061075957 |publisher=[[Harper Collins|Harper Entertainment]]|location=[[New York City]]|url=https://archive.org/details/endbeginning00meis }}
* {{Cite book |last=Meisler |first=Andy |title=Resist or Serve: The Official Guide to The X-Files, Vol. 4 |publisher=[[Harper Collins|Harper Entertainment]]|location=[[New York City]] |year=1999 |isbn=9780061073090 |url=https://archive.org/details/resistorserve00meis }}
* {{Cite book |last=Meisler |first=Andy |title=I Want to Believe: The Official Guide to the X-Files, Vol. 3 |publisher=[[Harper Prism]] |location=[[New York City]], NY |year=1998 |isbn=9780061053863 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/iwanttobelieve00meis }}
* {{cite book |last1=Niles |first1=Steve |title=The X-Files/30 Days of Night |year=2010 |publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]|location=[[San Diego, CA]] |last2=Jones |first2=Adam |isbn=9781401231781 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/xfiles30daysofni0000nile }}
* {{cite book |year=2001 |last=Shapiro |first=Marc |title=All Things: The Official Guide to the X-Files Volume 6 |publisher=[[Harper Prism]] |location=[[New York City]], NY |isbn=9780061076114 |url=https://archive.org/details/allthings00shap }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{sister project links|display=''The X-Files''|d=Q2744|c=Category:The X-Files|q=The X-Files|voy=X-Files tourism|n=no|b=no|v=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|species=no|wikt=Category:en:The X-Files}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030604075744/http://scifi.com/xfiles/ ''The X-Files''] official site ([[Syfy]]). Archived from [http://scifi.com/xfiles/ the original] on June 4, 2003.
* {{IMDb title|0106179}}
* {{epguides|XFiles}}

{{X-Files|state=expanded}}
{{The X-Files episodes}}
{{Navboxes
| title = [[List of accolades received by The X-Files|Awards for ''The X-Files'']]
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{{Portal bar|Television|United States|Science Fiction|Speculative fiction/Horror|1990s}}

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