The X-Files

The X-Files(1998)

PG-13
06/19/1998 (US)Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller2h 1m
6.9

"Fight the future."

Overview

Mulder and Scully, now taken off the FBI's X Files cases, must find a way to fight the shadowy elements of the government to find out the truth about a conspiracy that might mean the alien colonization of Earth.

Frank Spotnitz

Story

Chris Carter

Story

Rob Bowman

Director

Chris Carter

Screenplay

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Part of the The X Files Collection

The X-Files (also known as The X-Files: Fight the Future) is a 1998 American science fiction thriller film directed by Rob Bowman. Chris Carter wrote the screenplay. The story is by Carter and Frank Spotnitz. It is the first feature film based on Carter's television series The X-Files that revolves around fictional unsolved cases called the X-Files and the characters solving them. The X-Files has spawned one sequel, a 2008 film entitled The X-Files: I Want to Believe released six years after the series ended.

Media

The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) Trailer C

The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) Trailer C

Trailer

The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) Trailer B

The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) Trailer B

Trailer

The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) Trailer A

The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998) Trailer A

Trailer

The X-Files (1998) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

The X-Files (1998) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

Trailer

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A review by Wuchak
7.0

Written on September 2, 2025

**_The best of The X Files_**

After an explosion reminiscent of the Oklahoma City bombing, FBI agents Mulder and Scully stumble on an otherworldly virus and an intricate governmental cover-up. Their investigation leads them all over the map and, ultimately, to Antarctica, with numerous mysterious happenings and shadowy meetings.

Originally known simply as "The X Files" but later as "The X-Files: Fight the Future," this 1998 film is essentially an elongated episode of the TV series with a bigger budget. I've never been more than a casual viewer (seeing 10-12 of the top-rated episodes) and, to me, this film pretty much represents the best the series had to offer, except that I favor the MOTW episodes as opposed to the alien conspiracy ones. “Clyde Bruckman’s Final Repose” from season 3 is a good example. I just prefer the human interest and uniqueness of such episodes compared to the listless redundancy of the alien conspiracy segments.

Everyone knows that creator Chris Carter was inspired by The Night Stalker TV Series/movies when he formulated the show. Whereas that brief 70s’ series was overt and almost cartoony with its depictions of the paranormal, The X Files always took a more subdued, realistic approach. To some, this made it boring; to others, fascinating; to me, a mixture of both.

The way the plot in the movie unfolds is similar to "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark," albeit grimmer and quasi-believable. Other than the paranormal, the appeal of The X Files has always been Gillian Anderson. What a uniquely beautiful redhead with her intelligent, cynical expressions.

There are some glaring geographical problems, unfortunately. For instance, Dallas is located in east Texas, which is technically on the eastern side of the USA and looks it; it’s very green. There are no desert-like landscapes anywhere close. Producers obviously did this to save on costs, but why not have those particular sequences take place outside of El Paso in west Texas? Or how about nearby Santa Fe or Albuquerque, New Mexico? Furthermore, a car trip from Dallas to DC takes 20 hours, not a single night’s drive as shown; not to mention traveling from Dallas to the Mexican border takes over 9 hours, not a couple of hours.

It runs 2 hours, 2 minutes (with the Theatrical Release running a minute or two shorter) and was shot in California, British Columbia, Texas, New Jersey, London and Washington DC.

GRADE: B/B+