23 Years Later, This 10/10 Sci-Fi Show Masterpiece Keeps Getting Better

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Considered a perfect 10/10 sci-fi classic, The X-Files not only redefined the genre but remains consistently entertaining even 23 years after its original run ended. The show, which aired from 1993 to 2002, followed two very different FBI agents as they investigated strange, unexplained events happening all over the United States.

Gillian Anderson played Agent Scully as a consistently doubtful skeptic, rarely accepting paranormal explanations. David Duchovny’s Agent Mulder, on the other hand, enthusiastically believed in conspiracies and supernatural causes. This naturally led to conflict, as Scully sought logical answers each week, and Mulder encouraged her to consider the more unusual possibilities.

Combining standalone, creepy cases with a larger, season-long storyline, The X-Files changed how stories were told on television. Similar to David Lynch’s groundbreaking show Twin Peaks, it took the standard police drama format and added psychological thrills and strange science fiction. This, combined with the strong connection between the main characters, quickly turned it into a beloved classic.

The X-Files Has Aged Well

Similar to Twin Peaks, The X-Files stands out as one of the best horror shows ever made, even by 2026 standards. While known for its focus on UFOs and government secrets – making it a classic science fiction show – episodes like “Home” (season 4, episode 2) and “The Host” (season 2, episode 2) demonstrated its truly frightening horror elements.

The X-Files successfully combined scary and science fiction themes, and developed the connection between its main characters, Mulder and Scully, attracting an audience that might not usually watch shows with such unusual plots. Before this series, traditional crime shows struggled to incorporate supernatural elements without losing viewers.

Early TV shows followed predictable patterns. Police dramas, like Dragnet and The Rockford Files, generally stuck to a similar formula. Horror and science fiction shows were usually one of two types: self-contained stories, such as those found in The Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt, and The Outer Limits, or ongoing, epic science fiction adventures like Star Trek.

The X-Files was unique and didn’t quite fit into typical TV genres. Its stories about alien invasions, government conspiracies, and bizarre killers were too strange for standard police shows, but it wasn’t a classic space opera like Star Trek, Babylon 5, or Battlestar Galactica either. It felt more realistic and gritty than those shows, despite its fantastical elements.

How The X-Files Changed Sci-Fi TV

Because of its unique approach, The X-Files created a new type of show, and many others have since copied its formula of combining detective work with elements of fantasy and the supernatural. Shows like Supernatural, Fringe, Evil, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Grimm, The Outsider, and Lucifer all benefited from The X-Files paving the way for mysteries involving aliens and monsters.

Shows like Fringe and Lost wouldn’t have been possible without The X-Files. The X-Files first introduced audiences to complex sci-fi concepts and mysterious storytelling, making them more open to the parallel universes of Fringe and the ambiguous narratives of Lost. In essence, The X-Files laid the groundwork for these later hits.

The X-Files Returned In 2016

Chris H.B. / © Fox Network / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Given how many TV shows were inspired by The X-Files, it’s not surprising the original series was brought back after it ended. The first extension of the show came in 1998 with the movie The X-Files: Fight the Future.

While reviewers felt the first movie didn’t capture the spirit of the original show, it still made a significant $189 million. A second film, The X-Files: I Want to Believe, followed in 2008 and earned a respectable $68.4 million at the box office.

The biggest attempt to revive the series came with the 2016 reboot of The X-Files. Though it lasted for two seasons, it received a mixed reaction. Many critics wondered if the show needed to return, arguing that its original groundbreaking ideas weren’t as unique anymore because so many other shows had copied them.

What To Expect From The X-Files Reboot

Credit: Eli Ade / © Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection

The series hadn’t been seen for many years, but director Ryan Coogler, known for his work on Sinners, announced a revival is planned for 2025. Coogler’s success with Hollywood blockbusters is already generating buzz, but the huge popularity of Sinners suggests the new show has the potential to be truly exceptional.

In Sinners, director Ryan Coogler skillfully combined realistic character development with intense horror and action, focusing on the desperate defense of a juke joint against a vampire attack. The film is a moving, frightening, and often humorous experience, demonstrating Coogler’s ability to capture the same blend of tones that made The X-Files so captivating before its initial ending over two decades ago.

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2026-01-31 19:46