The X-Files

The X-Files is an American <a href="/facts/Science_fiction_on_television/sxtqpWqe">science fiction</a> <a href="/facts/Drama_(film_and_television)/K3GjTczf">drama</a> television series created by <a href="/facts/Chris_Carter_(screenwriter)/Evc9TujS">Chris Carter</a>. The original series aired from September 10, 1993, to May 19, 2002, on <a href="/facts/Fox_Broadcasting_Company/yeFeCgGk">Fox</a>, spanning <a href="/facts/List_of_The_X-Files_episodes/J8hbYBsX">nine seasons, with 202 episodes</a>. A <a href="/facts/The_X-Files_season_10/4uDeaKwx">tenth season</a> of six episodes ran from January to February 2016. Following the ratings success of this revival, The X-Files returned for an <a href="/facts/The_X-Files_season_11/0zB65BEp">eleventh season</a> 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 <a href="/facts/The_X-Files_(film)/Ay8lvW3g">The X-Files</a> and the stand-alone film <a href="/facts/The_X-Files%3a_I_Want_to_Believe/w5nlC6WE">The X-Files: I Want to Believe</a>, released in 2008, six years after the original television run ended.
The series revolves around <a href="/facts/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation/UY93jwX6">Federal Bureau of Investigation</a> (FBI) <a href="/facts/Special_agent/CcwTFuUk">Special Agents</a> <a href="/facts/Fox_Mulder/PLgl7am3">Fox Mulder</a> (<a href="/facts/David_Duchovny/YagYdSAf">David Duchovny</a>) and <a href="/facts/Dana_Scully/ILWsD7Kt">Dana Scully</a> (<a href="/facts/Gillian_Anderson/I2ecBsdA">Gillian Anderson</a>), who investigate the eponymous "<a href="/facts/X-files_unit/BLKSxIRK">X-Files</a>": marginalized, unsolved cases involving <a href="/facts/Paranormal/0BeTVPJC">paranormal</a> phenomena. Mulder is a skilled <a href="/facts/Offender_profiling/z8yqgCeT">criminal profiler</a>, an ardent <a href="/facts/Supernaturalism/qSlTK0Ss">supernaturalist</a>, and a <a href="/facts/Conspiracy_theory/sNr2Kmh8">conspiracy theorist</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Extraterrestrial_life/arxCPFTQ">extraterrestrial life</a>. 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 <a href="/facts/Mythopoeia/ClBkUGU8">mythopoeia</a>-driven <a href="/facts/Mythology_of_The_X-Files/4j83szEW">story arc</a> about a planned alien invasion, whereas the other two-thirds may be described as "<a href="/facts/Villain_of_the_week/WkUxFNM8">monster of the week</a>" episodes that focus on a singular villain, mutant, or monster.
The X-Files was inspired by earlier television series featuring elements of suspense, horror, and speculative science fiction, including <a href="/facts/The_Twilight_Zone_(1959_TV_series)/gcxyGSnI">The Twilight Zone</a>, <a href="/facts/Night_Gallery/3v0Fj5C6">Night Gallery</a>, <a href="/facts/Tales_from_the_Darkside/mKBohGhL">Tales from the Darkside</a>, <a href="/facts/Twin_Peaks/nrr4P0Wk">Twin Peaks</a>, and especially <a href="/facts/Kolchak%3a_The_Night_Stalker/4yUA0d8t">Kolchak: The Night Stalker</a>. 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 <a href="/facts/John_Doggett/N3nrfUMo">John Doggett</a> (<a href="/facts/Robert_Patrick/8CggYDwA">Robert Patrick</a>) and <a href="/facts/Monica_Reyes/0r8uXPR1">Monica Reyes</a> (<a href="/facts/Annabeth_Gish/lEWWJvBC">Annabeth Gish</a>), among others. Mulder and Scully's immediate superior, <a href="/facts/Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation/UY93jwX6">Assistant Director</a> <a href="/facts/Walter_Skinner/fsm7qfRJ">Walter Skinner</a> (<a href="/facts/Mitch_Pileggi/kfo5GEcX">Mitch Pileggi</a>), began to appear regularly. The first five seasons of The X-Files were filmed in <a href="/facts/Vancouver/rn2AKA1n">Vancouver</a>, British Columbia, before production eventually moved to <a href="/facts/Los_Angeles/pyXpYEX9">Los Angeles</a>, 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 <a href="/facts/List_of_accolades_received_by_The_X-Files/tCE58WCf">awards and nominations</a>, and by its conclusion the show was the longest-running science fiction series in American television history. The series also spawned a <a href="/facts/The_X-Files_(franchise)/4UACKe5D">franchise</a> that includes <a href="/facts/Millennium_(TV_series)/zNFPaxIn">Millennium</a> and <a href="/facts/The_Lone_Gunmen_(TV_series)/TzCEps2f">The Lone Gunmen</a> spin-offs, two theatrical films, and accompanying <a href="/facts/The_X-Files_merchandise/Gr1sS0bT">merchandise</a>.

The X-Files open-in-new

The X-Files