Editing The X-Files (section)

=== Legacy ===
{{see also|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>