Editing The X-Files (section)

== Broadcast and release ==

=== Episodes ===
{{Main|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      = 12.00<ref name=pilotrating>{{cite news |title=Smooth Start for 'seaQuest DSV' {{en dash}} Nielsen Ratings|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=September 15, 1993|page=03D}}</ref>
| end1              = {{End date|1994|5|13}}
| endrating1        = 14.00<ref name=erlenmeyerratings>{{cite news |title=Nielsen Ratings |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=May 18, 1994 |page=D3}}</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      = 16.10<ref name=littlegreenrating>{{cite news |title='Girl' Helps ABC Start Fall Season on Top {{en dash}} Nielsen Ratings|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=September 21, 1994|page=03D}}</ref>
| end2              = {{End date|1995|5|19}}
| endrating2        = 16.60<ref name=anasazirating>{{cite news |title=Nielsen Ratings |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=May 24, 1995 |page=03.D}}</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        = 14.00<ref name="relrat">{{cite news |last=Associated Press |title=Season Finales Lift NBC to No. 1 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com.www2.lib.ku.edu:2048/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CNPB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EC39AD52C22F91B&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0F8479522BD09CA1 |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Post]] |date=May 2001 |page=3C |access-date=January 15, 2012 |url-access=subscription }}</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 U.S. 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}}

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}}
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/185861/ |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=dead }}</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>