The X-Files | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

66% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 72% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings

In a small Texas town, a mysterious black substance emanating from the remains of a prehistoric human engulfs a young boy and his rescuers. Later, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are in Dallas to disarm a bomb set to detonate inside a federal facility. Unfortunately the bomb explodes -- leaving four inside dead. Mulder and Scully then receive a tip that the disaster was a government effort to cover-up an alien virus linked to the boy's death.

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Critics Consensus

Results may vary for newcomers, but fans of the series will enjoy its big-screen transition.

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Critics Reviews

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The X-Files | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Paul Tatara CNN.com I came close to getting very excited on several different occasions, and that's saying something when you consider that I thought the experience would be more like participating in a card game that's beyond my comprehension. Feb 5, 2018 Full Review The X-Files | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Paul Clinton (CNN.com) CNN.com I predict you'll be pleasantly surprised, and may even find yourself in front of the TV on Sunday nights with the rest of us X-Files groupies. Feb 5, 2018 Full Review The X-Files | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Rita Kempley Washington Post The X-Files movie is really just a two-hour teaser for the series's sixth season. And little else. May 19, 2008 Full Review The X-Files | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review [Carter's] are mysteries told using intelligent dialogue and subtle inference, chases, and suspense, versus the actionized spoils of your typical Hollywood alien-centric fluff. For that reason, this is a better-than-average TV-to-film adaptation. Rated: 3/4 Sep 6, 2023 Full Review The X-Files | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight So if you’re free on Sunday nights, tune into the show and catch up on a fascinating journey into paranormal disturbances and government conspiracies. It’s a wild ride and more exciting when you see it on the small screen. Rated: 2/4 Jan 7, 2023 Full Review The X-Files | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Kelechi Ehenulo Confessions From A Geek Mind Whilst elements were designed to bring on new fans, the experience is better for fans who have knowledge of the show. Rated: 4/5 Jul 17, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jeff N This film shouldn't have worked. For one, it's a film based on a TV show and those almost never work. It might be the best film based on a TV show since "In the Heat of the Night." There's also major plot holes. One such plot hole is why are there bodies left over from an explosion that are so perfectly preserved? Wasn't the point of the explosion to get rid of said bodies, and aren't they basically turning to jelly? Yet, there they are in a morgue? That's just one example. Then there's the dialogue which is at best faltering at times. Yet, this film is a riveting and fun ride. This is mostly due to the chemistry between Mulder and Scully created by the great performances by the actors who play them. Then there's the captivating plot and the great cinematography. This bad script works because it's such a well made movie with such great acting. It's beyond good, it's a classic. Watch it once, and it will become a rewatchable you'll go back to every couple of years. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/26/24 Full Review Fer E Tremendo clásico que me acabo de volver a ver. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/18/24 Full Review Craig B The X-Files movie was an entertaining 'fillin' between series 5 and 6 of the equally entertaining series... yes, if you're only just getting to watch the X-Files, you need to watch this movie after the 5th series before watching the 6th series.The usual strong performances from Duchovny and Andersen shore up a pretty intriguing storyline. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/16/24 Full Review David C An excellent big screen adaptation of the Classic TV series. Now surely we can accept a couple things going in. The X-Files film is both a film and an episode. IT has to be. The film has excellent writing, acting set pieces and tone. It still initiates the un-initiated however it is the best for hard core fans. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/08/24 Full Review Arthur M I want to believe also Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/24 Full Review J a X-files was one of those shows growing up where I thought the world was large and amazing, scary and mysterious. Watching the series now and seeing the way the show was constructed, episodes in the early seasons so scattered apart and sometimes horribly edited which is ashamed for such a loveable show. When X- Files does start getting its footing and the stories find there way into a continuous arc that has a streamline structure that the audience doesn't have to struggle to piece together and items, substances and moments are finally explained and defined, the show finds its heart and its beat. There are some legendary episodes that work as a stand alone in many ways, and the Mulder search for his sister, and the search for Mulder are the main chapters in how I see the X-files stories. The last two final seasons are more an epilogue with again, some wonderful standalone episodes and the main arc of Mulder, with the aliens and all that comes with that burden. I will say the Skully leadership arcs are some of the better episodes and as much as Mulder is great, Skully equally if not more so carries and is why the X-Files works. Without X-Files we wouldn't have Supernatural, and with that said after seeing both series, Supernatural does win for a more consistent show with a better consistent storyline. X-Files will always be a classic worth binging and sharing. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/24 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Rob Bowman Director David Duchovny Fox Mulder Gillian Anderson Dana Scully Martin Landau Dr. Alvin Kurtzweil Armin Mueller-Stahl Conrad Strughold Blythe Danner Jana Cassidy
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Synopsis In a small Texas town, a mysterious black substance emanating from the remains of a prehistoric human engulfs a young boy and his rescuers. Later, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are in Dallas to disarm a bomb set to detonate inside a federal facility. Unfortunately the bomb explodes -- leaving four inside dead. Mulder and Scully then receive a tip that the disaster was a government effort to cover-up an alien virus linked to the boy's death.

Director
Rob Bowman

Producer
Chris Carter, Daniel Sackheim

Screenwriter
Chris Carter

Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox

Rating
PG-13

Genre
Sci-Fi, Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013

Box Office (Gross USA)
$83.9M

Runtime
2h 0m

Sound Mix
Surround
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