THE X-FILESEd Araquel / TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox
By
Greg MacArthur
Published Feb 4, 2026, 7:03 PM EST
Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant who also covers Movies and Music. He's published over 2500 articles at SR, including weekly binge guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.
Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.
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After 33 years since its debut, the masterful sci-fi thriller The X-Files still holds up today as a must-binge series and is only getting better ahead of its upcoming franchise reboot.
Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as one of TV's most iconic leading duos, this legendary series, which won 16 Emmys during its 25-year run, first aired in 1993 and has left an indelible mark on television history and the sci-fi genre.
The X-Files Is A Must-Watch Show For Every Sci-Fi Fan
The X-Files remains one of the quintessential must-watch sci-fi shows and conspiracy thrillers ever made for TV. Created by Chris Carter, this series became extremely popular during the 1990s and early 2000s, even spawning a 1998 blockbuster movie.
All 217 episodes across 11 seasons are available to binge-watch on Hulu and Disney+ and still make for riveting, binge-worthy TV. Similar to The Twilight Zone, there is a timeless quality to the series, thanks to its intriguing premise based on the potential existence of alien life.
The X-Files also has one of the most gripping first episodes in TV history, wasting no time before pulling viewers into its signature world. During the pilot episode, Anderson's Dana Scully, straight out of medical school, meets Duchovny's FBI detective Fox Mulder, who has been ostracized for his firm belief in extraterrestrial life. The entire 11-season series would then be built on their relationship and this belief system.
The X-Files concluded in 2001 after nine seasons before the show continued with two additional seasons in 2016 and 2018, which received mostly positive feedback, but notably less favor than the OG series. Now, 8 years after the franchise ended under Chris Carter's oversight, the series is in talks to be rebooted under the direction of Sinners director Ryan Coogler.
The X-Files Reboot Can Continue The Show's Legacy
Agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) in The X-Files episode "Bad Blood".
The continued interest in The X-Files throughout the decades since its series premiere in 1993 has revitalized the franchise for modern audiences. While binge-watching the entire show is always an enjoyable and nostalgic option, Coogler's new vision for the franchise is a great thing for both new and old fans of the show.
Subscribe to the newsletter for X-Files reboot insight
Get deeper X-Files perspective by subscribing to our newsletter — you'll receive thoughtful analysis, franchise context, and coverage of the reboot's creative stakes to help fans understand what the new direction could mean for the series' legacy. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.That said, there is some cause for reasonable concern, as acclaimed Get Out director Jordan Peele tried to reboot The Twilight Zone for Paramount+ in 2019. Obviously, given the 156-episode run of the original series, created and hosted by the iconic Rod Sterling, the modern reboot would have been able to sustain more than a two-season run. However, Peele's rendition of The Twilight Zone failed to win over fans and critics.
The same risk is carried into Coogler's The X-Files reboot, even though he is currently red hot after Sinners broke the all-time record for most Oscar nominations ever with 16. If there were ever a time to take this type of creative risk, it would be now, given Coogler's track record. If he's successful, The X-Files franchise will only continue to get better, hopefully for many years to come.
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Like Follow Followed The X-Files TV-14 Mystery Crime Drama Science Fiction
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9.0/10
Release Date
1993 - 2018-00-00
Network
FOX
Showrunner
Chris Carter
Directors
Rob Bowman, David Nutter, R. W. Goodwin, Michael W. Watkins, Tony Wharmby, Daniel Sackheim, Michael Lange, Cliff Bole, David Duchovny, Jim Charleston, James Wong, Peter Markle, Rod Hardy, Thomas J. Wright, William A. Graham, Jerrold Freedman, Joe Napolitano, Kevin Hooks, Larry Shaw, Richard Compton, Tucker Gates, Allen Coulter, Barry K. Thomas, Brett Dowler
Cast
See All-
David Duchovny
Fox Mulder
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Gillian Anderson
Dana Scully
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The X-Files
Subscribe to the newsletter for X-Files reboot insight
Get deeper X-Files perspective by subscribing to our newsletter — you'll receive thoughtful analysis, franchise context, and coverage of the reboot's creative stakes to help fans understand what the new direction could mean for the series' legacy. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Trending Now
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