The X-Files: Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 10, 1993
  • Season #: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10
The X-Files Image
Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.6 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 37 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson
  • Summary: The X-Files is a Peabody, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning American science fiction television series created by Chris Carter, which first aired on September 10, 1993, and ended on May 19, 2002. The show was a hit for the Fox Broadcasting Company network, and its main characters and slogans (e.g., "The Truth Is Out There", "Trust No One", "I Want to Believe") became pop culture touchstones. The X-Files is seen as a defining series of the 1990s, coinciding with the era's widespread mistrust of governments, interest in conspiracy theories and spirituality, and the belief in the existence of extraterrestrial life.

    TV Guide called The X-Files the Second greatest cult television show and the 37th best television show of all time. In 2007, Time magazine included it on a list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time." In 2008, Entertainment Weekly named it Classic Sci-fi and the fourth best TV show in the last 25 years.

    This long running FOX drama lasted nine seasons and focused on the exploits of FBI Agents Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, John Doggett and Monica Reyes and their investigations into the paranormal. From genetic mutants and killer insects to a global conspiracy concerning the colonisation of Earth by an alien species, this mind-boggling, humourous and occasionally frightening series created by Chris Carter has been one of the world's most popular sci-fi/drama shows since its humble beginnings in 1993.

    So sit back and enjoy the fascinating world of The X-Files.

    The entire nine seasons of The X-Files are now available on DVD!

    Emmy Awards
    2001 - Outstanding Makeup for a Series for episode DeadAlive
    2000 - Outstanding Makeup for a Series for episode Theef - Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Drama Series for episode First Person Shooter - Outstanding Special Visual Effects for a Series for episode First Person Shooter
    1999 - Outstanding Makeup for a series for episodes Two Fathers/One Son
    1998 - Outstanding Art Direction for a Series for episode The Post-Modern Prometheus - Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Series for episode Kill Switch
    1997 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Gillian Anderson - Outstanding Art Direction for a Series for episode Memento Mori - Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for episode Tempus Fugit
    1996 - Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series to Peter Boyle for episode Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Drama Series to Darin Morgan for episode Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cinematography for a series for episode Grotesque - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series for episode Nisei - Outstanding individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series for episode Nisei
    1994 - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Graphic Design and Title Sequences for The X-Files

    Golden Globe Awards

    1998 - Best TV Series (Drama)
    1997 - Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series (Drama) to David Duchovny
    - Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series (Drama) to Gillian Anderson - Best TV Series (Drama)
    1995 - Best TV Series (Drama)    … Expand
  • Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Horror, Suspense, Science Fiction

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Feb 17, 2013
    83
    The X-Files is the most paranoid, subversive show on TV right now...Filled with florid dialogue (''You've seen things that weren't meant to be seen!'') and not-bad special effects, X-Files is a hoot about hooey.
  2. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: David Zurawik
    Feb 20, 2013
    80
    But the paranormal is not what counts. It's the FBI agents who matter -- they're one of TV's most interesting twentysomething couples. [10 Sept 1993, p.1D]
    All this critic's reviews
  3. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Kathleen Shea
    Feb 17, 2013
    60
    An advisory at the beginning of this thing claims it's "inspired" by actual factual accounts...Snort. [10 Sept 1993, p.56]
    All this publication's reviews
  4. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    Feb 17, 2013
    30
    It's not quite sci-fi, not quite fantasy, and yet not quite realistic either. It's not quite a show, is what it's not quite...You may get an urge to take a hike too, but pity the poor critic who has to sit there with a big grin on his face and watch the whole stupid thing. [10 Sept 1993, p.G7]

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Sambolini
    10
    'The X-Files' was inarguably one of the most influential shows of the 20th century, it delved into the public's lack of trust for the government and the '90s atmosphere of angst and paranoia. The show became a pop culture icon and is a must-watch for any true cinephile.… Expand
  2. mikeachu7
    10
    Ah, the 90's. Oh how I wish I could return to the better times. The chemistry between Mulder and Scully is just so amazing for lack of a better word. The way this show was filmed and acted are just simply superb. I love that it's on Netflix instant. Thank you Chris Carter and the whole team!!!!!!!!!!!!!… Collapse
  3. breakingmad
    9
    The X-Files has certainly raised the bar when it comes to tv shows with consistent and well written episodes. Few tv shows have come close to its quality ever since it first aired in 1993.… Expand
  4. chaibos
    9
    In 1993 the cult phenomenon of txf had its first appearance - but after re-watching the show in 2008 I dare to say that it is still one of my all-time favourites. The first season intelligibly lags behind later ones in terms of sfx (due to its budget and the general technical potential back then) but its overall mood easily is the most eerie/paranoid of the whole series - precisely because it feels so down-to-earth and hand-made. I still appreciate Mark Snow's score or Gillian Anderson's completely unfeminine pantsuits for what they did: They managed to make the improbable seem real because the world these things happened in was what our world looks like outside of the studios. Season 1 raises many questions (& gives only few answers), sets the direction for the rest of the series and got me hooked for nine years and beyond.… Expand

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