After 33 years since its debut, the masterful sci-fi thriller The X-Files still holds up today as a must-binge series and is only getting better ahead of its upcoming franchise reboot.

Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as one of TV’s most iconic leading duos, this legendary series, which won 16 Emmys during its 25-year run, first aired in 1993 and has left an indelible mark on television history and the sci-fi genre.

The X-Files Is A Must-Watch Show For Every Sci-Fi Fan

The X-Files remains one of the quintessential must-watch sci-fi shows and conspiracy thrillers ever made for TV. Created by Chris Carter, this series became extremely popular during the 1990s and early 2000s, even spawning a 1998 blockbuster movie.

All 217 episodes across 11 seasons are available to binge-watch on Hulu and Disney+ and still make for riveting, binge-worthy TV. Similar to The Twilight Zone, there is a timeless quality to the series, thanks to its intriguing premise based on the potential existence of alien life.

The X-Files also has one of the most gripping first episodes in TV history, wasting no time before pulling viewers into its signature world. During the pilot episode, Anderson’s Dana Scully, straight out of medical school, meets Duchovny’s FBI detective Fox Mulder, who has been ostracized for his firm belief in extraterrestrial life. The entire 11-season series would then be built on their relationship and this belief system.

The X-Files concluded in 2001 after nine seasons before the show continued with two additional seasons in 2016 and 2018, which received mostly positive feedback, but notably less favor than the OG series. Now, 8 years after the franchise ended under Chris Carter’s oversight, the series is in talks to be rebooted under the direction of Sinners director Ryan Coogler.

The X-Files Reboot Can Continue The Show’s Legacy

The continued interest in The X-Files throughout the decades since its series premiere in 1993 has revitalized the franchise for modern audiences. While binge-watching the entire show is always an enjoyable and nostalgic option, Coogler’s new vision for the franchise is a great thing for both new and old fans of the show.

That said, there is some cause for reasonable concern, as acclaimed Get Out director Jordan Peele tried to reboot The Twilight Zone for Paramount+ in 2019. Obviously, given the 156-episode run of the original series, created and hosted by the iconic Rod Sterling, the modern reboot would have been able to sustain more than a two-season run. However, Peele’s rendition of The Twilight Zone failed to win over fans and critics.

The same risk is carried into Coogler’s The X-Files reboot, even though he is currently red hot after Sinners broke the all-time record for most Oscar nominations ever with 16. If there were ever a time to take this type of creative risk, it would be now, given Coogler’s track record. If he’s successful, The X-Files franchise will only continue to get better, hopefully for many years to come.

The X-Files

8/10

Release Date

1993 – 2018-00-00

Network

FOX

Showrunner

Chris Carter

Directors

Rob Bowman, David Nutter, R. W. Goodwin, Michael W. Watkins, Tony Wharmby, Daniel Sackheim, Michael Lange, Cliff Bole, David Duchovny, Jim Charleston, James Wong, Peter Markle, Rod Hardy, Thomas J. Wright, William A. Graham, Jerrold Freedman, Joe Napolitano, Kevin Hooks, Larry Shaw, Richard Compton, Tucker Gates, Allen Coulter, Barry K. Thomas, Brett Dowler