Last Updated: April 23, 2020
Here’s where fans can watch classic horror series The X-Files online, and whether it’s on Netflix, Hulu or Prime. The X-Files became a television landmark when it debuted in 1993. The show followed two FBI agents who investigate the titular files, which are cases that may or may not involve supernatural or extraterrestrial elements. Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) is a true believer in both aliens and the supernatural, while his partner Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson, Hannibal) is a total skeptic. This dynamic and the chemistry between the actors is one reason the show became a huge success.
The X-Files was also a genuinely cinematic show and featured some terrifying scenes and creatures, such as the unforgettable Flukeman. Duchovny would depart The X-Files in season 7 to pursue a movie career but occasionally returned for episodes in seasons 8 and 9, with the latter being the final series of the show’s original run. The show was successful enough to spawn two movies - The X-Files: Fight The Future and 2008’s The X-Files: I Want To Believe - video games, comics, and other merchandise. The show was later revived for a six-episode “event” series in 2016, before ending once again with 2018’s season 11.
While the show itself was inspired by David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, The X-Files would go on to inspire everything from Lost to Supernatural. It was also an important step in making television feel more cinematic in nature. Of course, the issue with many long-running shows is that they start to feel stale, which is another reason Duchovny wanted to move on. Fans generally consider the show’s ninth season to be one of its weakest, while the response to the revival seasons was mixed.
The future of The X-Files is unclear, with declining viewing figures and Gillian Anderson’s desire to focus on other projects resulting in season 11 bringing the show to a close. If Anderson refuses to return, then a reboot series - or possibly another movie - is the most logical option. Replacing Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in the roles of Scully and Mulder would be near impossible in the minds of The X-Files fans, however, making it a uniquely tricky series to reboot.
Next: Why The X-Files Season 12 Never Happened
