x-files x-files american science fiction horror drama television series created chris_carter program originally aired september fox spanning seasons episodes feature film returning second film episode tenth season series revolves fbi special agents fox_mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson investigate files cases involving paranormal phenomena mulder believes existence aliens paranormal scully medical doctor assigned scientific analyses mulder discoveries debunk work return mainstream cases early series agents larger conflict come trust select people develop close relationship begins friendship romance end series addition series spanning story arc monster week episodes form roughly thirds episodes x-files inspired series featured elements suspense speculative fiction including twilight zone night gallery tales especially night creating main characters carter sought reverse gender stereotypes making mulder believer scully seven seasons featured duchovny anderson equally seasons anderson took precedence duchovny appeared intermittently new main characters introduced fbi agents mulder scully boss assistant director walter_skinner mitch_pileggi main character seasons x-files filmed produced vancouver british_columbia eventually moving los_angeles accommodate duchovny series later returned vancouver film files want believe tenth season series x-files hit fox network received largely positive reviews long term story arc criticized near conclusion initially considered cult series turned pop culture tapped public governments large institutions embraced conspiracy theories spirituality series lead actors duchovny anderson received multiple awards nominations end longest running science fiction series television history series spawned franchise includes lone gunmen spin theatrical films accompanying merchandise final theatrical film fans continued push movie conclude series plot lines march fox eventually announced series return chris_carter executive producer writer duchovny anderson davis reprising roles revival premiered january premise general files follows careers personal lives fbi special agents fox mulder david_duchovny dana_scully gillian_anderson mulder talented strong believer supernatural adamant existence intelligent extraterrestrial life presence earth set beliefs earns nickname assignment little known department deals cases known x-files belief paranormal springs claimed abduction sister mulder abduction drives mulder series desires revelation truths kept hidden human authorities mulder struggles maintain investigations agent scully foil mulder regard medical doctor natural scully approaches cases complete detachment mulder despite considerable training loses initial task debunk mulder theories supplying logical scientific explanations cases apparently phenomena frequently able offer scientific alternatives mulder rarely able completely course series increasingly dissatisfied ability approach cases scientifically mulder abduction hands aliens seventh season finale requiem scully reluctant believer manages explain paranormal science episodes deal relationship mulder scully originally later develops romantically mulder scully joined late series mulder abducted replaces scully partner helps search later involving reyes professional knowledge x-files ends mulder secretly subjected military tribunal breaking secret military facility viewing plans alien invasion colonization earth found guilty escapes punishment help agents scully mythology progressed key episodes called parts recognized mythology series canon episodes carried extraterrestrial conspiracy storyline evolved series monster week abbreviated came denote remainder x-files episodes episodes comprising majority series dealt paranormal phenomena including science fiction technologies horror monsters comedic elements main story arc involves agents efforts uncover government conspiracy hide existence earth sinister collaboration governments mysterious men comprising shadow element government known syndicate major villains series late series revealed syndicate acts liaison mankind group intends destroy human species usually represented ruthless killer politician failed novelist series principal antagonist series goes mulder scully learn evidence alien invasion piece piece revealed plan virus known black oil mankind turn population world slave race syndicate having deal spared aliens working develop alien human hybrid able withstand effects black oil group secretly working overcome black oil revealed parts season film counter alien colonization effort faction aliens rebels working stop alien colonization eventually season episodes fathers son rebels manage destroy syndicate colonists human dispatch super soldiers beings resemble humans alien parts season season manage replace key individuals government forcing mulder scully hiding cast characters main characters fox_mulder seasons main season intermittent lead portrayed david_duchovny mulder oxford educated fbi special agent believes existence government conspiracy hide truth works files office concerned cases marked involve supernatural mysterious circumstances mulder considers x-files important study life main purpose abduction aliens end season seven role diminished work taken agent appeared episode film files film files want believe dana_scully seasons main portrayed gillian_anderson scully fbi special agent medical doctor scientist mulder partner contrast scully basing beliefs scientific explanations despite rigid skepticism catholic faith plays important role episodes series progresses open possibility paranormal eighth season position files office taken agent scully moves teach new fbi agents appeared x-files feature films walter_skinner seasons recurring season intermittent lead portrayed mitch_pileggi skinner fbi assistant director served vietnam war time shot killed young boy carrying explosives incident life skinner originally mulder scully direct supervisor later serves position reyes originally portrayed somewhat antagonistic eventually close friend mulder scully appeared episode x-files feature films seasons main portrayed fbi special agent makes appearance season episode served 1970s 1980s later started work reaching rank detective son death joined fbi assigned files unit scully partner unsuccessful task force attempt find mulder appear x-files feature films season recurring season main season guest portrayed reyes fbi special agent born raised mexico_city folklore mythology earned master degree religious studies fbi assignment serving special task force investigating rituals longtime friend partner scully departure appear x-files feature films recurring characters cigarette smoking man seasons portrayed series primary villain ninth season episodes william truth suggested mulder biological father seventh season episode requiem believed killed pushed flight stairs ninth season finale truth mulder scully travel remote new_mexico reach wise man lives revealed cigarette smoking man appears feature film sixth episodes season seasons portrayed russian american son cold war immigrants introduced fbi special agent assigned temporary investigation partner fox_mulder proceeds work mulder attempts gain trust later evident actually undercover agent working cigarette smoking man plays important events harmful mulder scully seasons portrayed assigned x-files fox_mulder forced leave son cigarette smoking man wife multiple possibly half brother mulder initially thought murdered returned ninth season helped scully son william seasons portrayed assistant director later deputy director temporarily supervisor agents fox mulder dana_scully assigned away files division time man visit office assigned mulder scully tasks terrorist details federal background checks largely antagonistic mulder scully truth somewhat helping mulder escape capital punishment production conception california native chris_carter given opportunity produce new shows fox network early 1990s tired comedies working report million americans abducted aliens scandal 1970s horror series night triggered idea x-files wrote pilot episode carter initial pitch x-files rejected fox executives concept returned weeks later commissioned pilot carter worked producer develop pilot drawing stylistic inspiration documentary thin blue line british television series prime suspect inspiration came carter memories twilight zone silence provided impetus framing series agents fbi order provide characters plausible reason involved case carter believed present carter determined relationship leads strictly basing interactions characters series early 1990s series major influence dark atmosphere surreal blend drama irony duchovny appeared cross dressing agent mulder character seen parallel fbi agent producers writers cited president men days close encounters kind raiders lost thing boys brazil silence influences carter use continuous takes triangle modeled rope addition episodes written referred referenced films casting duchovny worked los_angeles years prior x-files wanted focus feature films manager gave script pilot episode files green duchovny convinced good script auditioned lead duchovny audition terrific talked slowly casting director positive carter thought particularly intelligent asked duchovny imagine fbi agent future episodes duchovny turned best read people carter knew anderson auditioned role scully couldn script recalled network wanted established taller actress scully year old anderson theater veteran minor film experience auditions carter felt choice carter insisted anderson kind nonsense integrity role required portraying scully anderson won numerous major awards screen actors guild award golden globe award character walter_skinner played actor mitch_pileggi unsuccessfully auditioned roles characters x-files getting fact asked audition recurring role slightly discovered reason previously cast roles carter unable characters actor head auditioned walter_skinner mood allowed small hair grow attitude fit skinner character causing carter assume actor pretending later realized lucky cast earlier roles believed appeared single episode missed opportunity play recurring role seventh season aired duchovny filed lawsuit 20th century fox upset claimed fox rights costing huge sums money eventually lawsuit settled duchovny awarded settlement million lawsuit strain duchovny professional relationships carter duchovny contracted work series seventh season fox entered negotiations near end season order bring board eighth season settling contract dispute duchovny quit time participation seventh season contributed likelihood eighth season carter fans felt natural duchovny departure decided mulder abducted end seventh seasons return episodes following year producers announced new character fill mulder role actors auditioned role seriously considered producers chose carter believed series continue years new leads opening credits accordingly redesigned seasons emphasize new actors finally listed main character presence series ratings boost network executives hoping eighth season episode happening marked appearance played main character season character developed introduced anderson possible departure end eighth season anderson stayed end series regular minor recurring characters early influence x-files mythology led introduction popular secondary characters continued years episodes written scully father william mother margaret sister conspiracy inspired trio lone gunmen secondary characters trio introduced season episode way mulder appear credible originally meant appear episode popularity returned second season episode blood recurring characters man portrayed initially cast extra pilot episode character grew main antagonist filming early stages production carter founded began plan filming pilot los_angeles unable find suitable locations scenes decided good forests moved production vancouver soon realized production crew season require filming location sound stages second location manager needed remained vancouver seasons production shifted los_angeles beginning sixth season duchovny unhappy geographical separation wife discontent popularly attributed frustration climatic conditions vancouver anderson wanted return united_states carter relented following fifth season season ended end final episode shot vancouver revival final episode involvement original crew members including director producer wife played later return briefly files crew returned vancouver film files want believe according film script written specifically city surrounding areas los_angeles changes scenes occurred original x-files crew gone new production designer editor writer director producer joined stayed years new director photography episodes generally drier brighter look california sunshine climate compared vancouver rain fog temperate forests early sixth season producers took advantage new location setting new parts country example drive man subject unexplained illness action episode unusual x-files largely set nevada stark desert roads episode set nevada time area episode largely filmed club movie ranch located outskirts lancaster california sixth ninth seasons filmed los_angeles series second movie files want believe filmed vancouver revival music music composed got involved x-files friendship executive producer initially carter candidates little dozen people considered continued press snow auditioned times sign production staff wanted day snow agent called talking pilot episode got job theme files instrumental sections dramas theme song famous whistle effect inspired track soon album meat murder attempting craft theme different sound effects snow rack mount synth effect called joe hearing effect carter taken noted going good according truth segment season dvd snow created echo effect track accident felt revisions right carter walked room snow hand keyboard frustration accidentally activated echo effect setting resulting riff pleased carter snow said sound keyboard second episode marked snow debut solo composer entire episode production crew determined limit music early episodes likewise theme song appeared snow tasked composing score x-files films films marked appearance real instruments previous music digitally crafted snow snow soundtrack film files original motion picture score released second film snow recorded 20th century fox recorded new version theme music end credits unusual sounds created variation silly piano strings snow commented fast percussion featured tracks inspired track quartet blood soundtrack soundtrack score files want believe original motion picture score released opening sequence opening sequence season remained unchanged duchovny left carter sought title opening supernatural images scenes notably include split screen image seed terror filled face created carter found video operator able create effect sequence extremely popular won particularly pleased sequence felt seen television premiere episode season revealed major change opening credits patrick sequence new images updated photos duchovny anderson duchovny appears opening credits appears episode carter production staff saw duchovny departure chance change things replacement shows pictures scully pregnancy according executive producer frank_spotnitz sequence features abstract way showing mulder absence eighth season falls eye season featured entirely new sequence anderson wanted sequence featured reyes skinner duchovny return ninth season finale truth marked largest number cast members featured opening credits sequence ends tagline truth majority episodes tagline changes specific episodes relevant episode trust examples include deny ascension dies believe understand closure watching trust end struggle broadcast release episodes nielsen ratings pilot premiered september reached million viewers season progressed ratings began increase season finale garnered million viewers season ranked shows television season series second season increased ratings trend continue seasons finished 63rd shows ratings spectacular series attracted fans receive label cult hit particularly fox standards importantly great gains age demographic sought year series ranked 55th viewed average million viewers increase seven percent second season making fox rated program year old demographic episodes fourth season aired friday night fourth episode aired sunday night remained sunday end season hit high twelfth episode chosen lead program following super bowl episode viewed million viewers series highest rated episode fifth season debuted november viewed million people making highest rated non special broadcast episode series season ranked eleventh watched series year average million viewers series highest rated season fox highest rated program season sixth season premiered beginning watched million viewers ended season lower numbers previous season beginning decline continue final years x-files fox highest rated year seventh season originally intended ranked 29th watched year million viewers time lowest rated year season episode season viewed million viewers episode marked decrease seventh season opener sixth extinction ninth season opener important happened today attracted million viewers series lowest rated season premiere original series finale truth attracted million viewers series lowest rated season finale ninth season 63rd watched season tying season rank finale aired fox network confirmed x-files talking beginning ninth season carter said lost audience episode like audience gone away didn know find didn want work believed deserved news outlets cited declining ratings lackluster stories poor writing files production crew blamed september terrorist attacks main factor end x-files longest running consecutive science fiction series broadcast television record later surpassed stargate debut episode revival struggle aired january watched million viewers terms viewers highest rated episode x-files air eighth season episode happening watched million viewers streaming taken account struggle seen million viewers scoring nielsen rating season ended struggle viewed million viewers total season viewed average million viewers ranked seventh watched television series year making highest ranked season x-files air foreign broadcast time started broadcasts x-files solid performer video stores japan sales x-files hit japan rated time slot average rating season american produced series succeed japan decade program regular primetime spot japanese television network initial year run films successful seasons carter wanted tell story series wider scale ultimately turned feature film later explained main problem create story require viewer familiar broadcast series movie filmed hiatus fourth fifth seasons shoots conducted filming fifth season demands actors schedules episodes fifth season focused leads summer eponymous files known released crew intended movie continuation season finale end meant stand season premiere beginning began film ended film written carter directed series regular addition skinner featured guest appearances appeared film featured appearance characters introduced fifth season finale appear film film strong domestic opening received positive reviews critics attendance dropped sharply weekend failed profit theatrical release large promotional budget x-files film successful internationally eventually worldwide theatrical box office total reached million film production cost budgets close million unlike series anderson duchovny received equal pay film november carter decided pursue second film adaptation production slated begin ninth season projected release december april carter reiterated desire studio desire sequel film planned write script summer begin production spring summer release carter described film independent series saying looking movies stand necessarily going deal mythology directed episodes x-files past film expressed interest sequel carter took job authored script carter second film based series files fight future filming began december vancouver finished march film released united_states july interview entertainment_weekly carter said want believe proved successful propose movie return television series mythology focus alien invasion series occur december film grossed million opening day united_states opened fourth weekend box office chart gross million end theatrical run grossed domestically additional internationally total worldwide gross domestic releases finished place film stars claimed timing movie release week highly popular batman film dark knight negatively affected success film received mixed negative reviews metacritic assigns normalized rating reviews mainstream film critics reported mixed average reviews average score based reviews rotten_tomatoes reported listed film critics gave film positive review average rating website wrote critics consensus stating chemistry leads david_duchovny gillian_anderson live televised legacy plot routines hard identify meant believe revival interviews release carter said want believe movie proved successful box office installment going series mythology focusing specifically alien invasion colonization earth ninth season finale occur december october interview david_duchovny likewise said wanted files movie know chance anderson stated august files film looking pretty good july fox approved movie carter duchovny anderson expressed interest new_york comic con held october duchovny anderson reaffirmed carter interested making film anderson saying takes fan encouragement fox interested guess january fox confirmed looking possibility bringing x-files movie limited run television season fox chairman told reporters conversations far logistical early stages series forward carter anderson duchovny board matter ensuring open march confirmed series return series creator chris_carter lead actors david_duchovny gillian_anderson premiered january home video release september wave set tapes released wave sets released covering fourth seasons wave vhs tapes containing episodes total episodes wave waves season example home video release wave drew half season pilot ice eve wave available boxed set unlike later dvd season releases tapes include episode seasons ultimately episodes approximately half total number aired selected carter represent season including nearly mythology arc episodes selected standalone episodes carter briefly introduced episode explanation episode chosen anecdotes set clips later included season dvds wave covering fourth season released carter interviews appeared dvds later seasons waves cards episode seasons released dvd films entire series released dvd early package slim case versions come bonus materials featured original fold versions seasons seven contained bonus materials found original versions episodic dvds released region existence important happened today providence truth episodes released dvd vhs dvd sets released containing main story arc episodes x-files volume abduction volume black oil volume colonization volume boxed set containing seasons film available contains special features initial releases set includes additional disc new bonus features including poster film comic book set collector cards guide episodes seasons film fact set released second film released included release seasons blu ray restored high definition rumored begin late german channel began airing season episodes high definition january april began streaming episodes x-files high definition marking time series available high resolution format north_america october confirmed complete series reissued blu ray set released december spin offs lone gunmen american science fiction television series created carter broadcast fox crafted humorous spin x-files series starred eponymous broadcast march x-files month long hiatus debut episode garnered million viewers ratings began steadily drop program cancelled thirteen episodes episode broadcast june ended cliffhanger partially resolved ninth season episode x-files titled jump shark comic books x-files converted comic book series published fourth seasons initial comic books written solely according types stories dealt characters dealt conspiracy monster week sort stuff cited easiest write saw scully scientist real world faith difference mulder scully mulder believes scully doesn difference procedure manner mulder viewpoint written valid scully scully science portrayed convincing mulder ideas eventually fired authors took job published regular issues x-files days night files cross graphic novel published follows mulder scully alaska investigate series murders linked vampires announced x-files return comic book form season published series follows mulder scully events released june wrote series provided artwork later announced carter executive producer series providing feedback creative team scripts outlines new stories line existing going canon series restarted series mythology arc story focused seek ing bring mythology alien conspiracy date paranoid post terror post society addition sequels popular monster week episodes concluded july issues august comic book began published issue series served continuation chris_carter comic book series issues written illustrated influence critical reception overall files received positive reviews television critics calling best series aired american television 1990s british newspaper independent called greatest cult shows modern television time magazine called cultural 1990s orlando sentinel said series grown cult favorite television classic evening herald said overwhelming influence television shows simpsons entertainment_weekly listed best cult shows past years describing sci fans conspiracy area pilgrims ratings improved year seasons mulder scully believer versus dynamic created template heavy use today x-files ranked guide cult shows ranked 37th best television time episodes final small potatoes respectively ranked guide greatest episodes time guide included list greatest dramas time ranked list best series time time included list best shows time entertainment_weekly named fourth best piece science fiction media fourth best years named fourth best piece science fiction list history empire magazine ranked best history claiming best episode season entry outer space according guardian research discovered x-files list innovative brands announced truth britain best known quotes x-files criticized presenting paranormal supernatural ideas notably person fox_mulder instance wrote files systematically anti rational view world virtue persistence seven seasons pilot episode generally received fans critics variety criticized episode reworked concepts praised production noted potential acting variety said duchovny scientist sense humor win partisans anderson connects solid team variety praised writing direction cool direction carter ingenious script presentation sci boost magazine concluded carter dialogue fresh self conscious characters involving series kicks drive imagination innovative recent entertainment_weekly said scully set pilot progressed belief season airing episodes magazine called files paranoid subversive noting tension anderson dubious events duchovny haunted look true believer said memorable monster week eugene squeeze following seasons received similar praise second season entertainment_weekly named stating television gives vibe x-files dvd journal gave second season stars calling memorable season review highlighted host ascension cliffhanger finale unforgettable meeting mulder scully families colony breath ign gave season rating reviewer noting improvement started explore little evolution characters makes product shine begun familiar todd_vanderwerff called season best season maybe greatest seasons time noting consistent swung strength strength mythology stand episodes entertainment_weekly gave fifth season writing proves creative peak year surprises praised new additions series mythology concluded stand episodes look like classics writing noted season interesting possessed truly inspiring hilarious episodes film began receive increasingly critical reviews longtime fans alienated sixth season different tone taken stand episodes los_angeles monsters week style romantic humorous terms fans felt coherent plan main storyline carter making goes seventh season noted seasons x-files good great seventh season possessed significant problems despite final seasons featured duchovny included episodes lauded critics including sixth season entries triangle unnatural seventh season installment seasons eighth season received mixed positive reviews critics noted eighth season new search mulder story arc commended eighth season praising anderson performance scully excellence positively wrote non dvd times said season included hits misses overall offered negative word mythology episodes claiming weakest episodes season popmatters criticized new season claiming patrick calling duchovny appearances mulder shallow season received mixed negative reviews critics garnered negative reaction long time fans viewers popmatters called pale reflection new_york_times concluded writing notwithstanding culmination beautifully complicated friendship mulder scully ended remaining interest phenomenon new_york_times review stated imaginative television finally reached limits imagination listed ninth season film files want believe bad apple files franchise describing ninth season clumsy mash stuff worked new serialized storylines called super soldiers ign hand positive ninth season saying series aired writers created new storyline patrick characters accolades files received prestigious awards year run totaling emmy nominations awards successful season x-files crew members won nominated seven emmy awards win following year won nominations including outstanding writing drama series x-files won awards including gillian_anderson outstanding lead actress drama series won won category series season seven won nominations following season successful catching nominations winning makeup category ninth season received nomination series dramatic nominated overall winning nomination came won best series drama following year anderson duchovny nominated leading role best actress leading role respectively series won awards anderson duchovny best actress actor best series drama received nominations series won best series drama series won award received nominations nominated awards overall winning twice anderson won outstanding performance female actor drama series won award able convey ideas entertaining thought provoking nominated american cinema editors awards directors guild america awards writers guild american awards x-files nominated satellite awards managing win young artist awards winning x-files saw viewership expand small devoted group fans worldwide mass cult audience digital telecommunications mainstream according new_york_times find audience growth tied growth internet x-files incorporated new technologies storylines beginning early seasons mulder scully communicated cellular phones mail contact secret provided plot points episodes colony lone gunmen portrayed internet early files fans online access fans commonly known term coined greek root meaning love obsession addition watching reviewed episodes unofficial websites formed communities fans wrote fan fiction x-files caught viewers wouldn consider sci fans carter argued plot driven fans saw character driven duchovny anderson characterized internet sex symbols grew popularity fans developed hoping romantic sexual partnership mulder scully perceived lines groups arose pay tribute stars characters joined slash fiction summer journalist wrote entire forums online devoted mulder scully relationship addition internet fans invented meaning unresolved sexual tension standing conversation rock referencing popular scene season episode aid discussions agents relationship identified producers endorse fans readings according study subject content allow perceive wish carter consistently idea mulder scully romance theirs preferred reading allows plausible credit success original plan watched anticipation romance thanks strategic deny fans reason repeatedly stated romance scully obsessed writer carter episode read alter ego realizing point fallen mulder despite intent writers paid tribute visible fans naming minor characters best example played introduced eighth season episode harrison created named memory internet fan prolific writer fan fiction died cancer february merchandise files spawned industry spin products recently imprint launched new series licensed tie comics series run published official released expansion set released x-files inspired video games released year later playstation game set timeline second season follows agent search missing mulder scully released files access game style database windows mac allowed users access case file released game survival horror game released playstation original story set seventh season allows player control mulder scully games feature acting voice work members series cast player game called x-files produced sega legacy x-files directly inspired series including burning zone special unit lost dark skies visitor fringe warehouse supernatural key aspects carried standard crime dramas bones influence seen levels television series lost developed complex terms characterization role dana_scully seen innovative changing women television perceived behaved influencing portrayal strong women investigators russell davies said x-files inspiration series describing dark wild sexy x-files meets life shows influenced tone mood x-files example drew mood coloring x-files occasional blend horror humor creator described cross x-files called life inspired themes video games perfect dark popularity led major aspect popular culture parodied simpsons season episode springfield files aired january mulder scully voiced duchovny anderson sent springfield investigate alien sighting end finding evidence homer word depart appears background homer interviewed theme plays particular scene ranked duchovny anderson performances fourth best guest appearances simpsons history star trek deep space episode trials interviewed investigations agents mulder scully respectively pair later expanded book watching clock x-files parodied referenced countless shows like sun archer american breaking bad castle hey arnold king hill south_park half men welsh music act released single mulder scully hit united_kingdom american singer songwriter wrote song called david duchovny actor heavily references characters mainstream hit song popular underground gained cult following series referenced bad touch change year week carter duchovny anderson celebrated 20th anniversary series july panel hosted guide discussion anderson discussed scully influence female fans relating number women informed entered careers physics character anderson indicated favor files miniseries duchovny ruled working unrelated project expressed willingness feature film carter reserved idea stating need reason excited going series attained degree historical importance july carter donated props series new film items included original pilot script want believe poster mulder office
The X-Files