The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998)

Since we only have one thread on this sub dedicated to that subpar sequel from 2008, and nothing for the original X-Files movie—which happens to be airing on NPR right now—I figured it was high time to open a new one for it.

I’m not sure how you guys feel about it, but personally, I still think the first X-Files film is top-tier. Maybe it's because it actually leans into the core mythology of the show: the alien invasion and the whole setup for the colonization of Earth.



Beyond looking incredible visually, the movie features David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson at their best, backed by a killer supporting cast. You've got Mitch Pillegi and William B. Davis (playing CGB Spender, aka The Smoking Man), plus legends like Martin Landau and Armin Mueller-Stahl. Even Terry O'Quinn shows up, though his part is pretty brief.

The film was helmed by Rob Bowman, who directed 33 episodes of the series and handled movies like Fight the Future and Electro, along with various episodes of shows like Castle and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Anyway, Chris Carter and the duo of Duchovny & Anderson have been dropping hints lately about a potential third movie that would finally tackle the colonization plotline, assuming they can convince the studio to pull the trigger.

TRAILER

IMDB
Wikipedia

Hey there... I completely lost track of the date today. I wonder if they might be running a rerun later on?

What else is there to say? The X-Files is the greatest show ever made—period. It’ll always be my top pick. Honestly, I’ve spent the last two weeks essentially marathon-watching everything from morning till night whenever I can find a spare moment. 🙂

The X-Files is forever. As for the movie, I’ve lost count of how many times I've seen it, so I’ll probably just pull it up on my PC and run it in the background while I continue my deep dive into the episodes.

this movie is awesome, but man, that other flick airing next Saturday is total garbage

Solid movie. Sadly, though, the quality of the series starts its massive nose dive right around then. If I recall correctly, that was during the fifth season's run.

A bit older maybe one or two impressions.... It’s a decent flick. But honestly, I’m just ready for the sequel—it feels more like those weird, out-there cases we used to get in the series—so, yeah, I’m basically done with anything and everything related to The X-Files 😁

It’d be pretty cool if they just filmed one more season—you know, just for kicks. Something for the fans. I mean, I’ll never get over David Duchovny leaving 😢

We’re probably never seeing a show like this again 😢 I guess Fringe is okay, but it doesn't even come close to The X-Files.

I really appreciated 🙂's review.

It’s a solid film, though I’d argue it doesn't quite reach the heights of the series during its absolute golden era. If you had to place it on a timeline, it feels like something caught somewhere between seasons 5 and 6. The decline starts creeping in around season 7, whereas those first six seasons represent the absolute pinnacle of television production. Whether you're looking for horror, sci-fi, drama, or comedy, they hit the mark. Just look at 😍
.

Eric Patel7 said:It would be a blast if they just filmed one more season, purely for the hell of it. Just for the fans. I will never regret the day David Duchovny moved on.😢

We may never see another series quite like this one. 😢 Fringe is fine, I suppose, but it doesn't even come close to the heights reached by The X-Files.

Fringe drags through that first season, though the second and third seasons really find their footing and are arguably its peak. In hindsight, however, the show feels somewhat one-dimensional. The X-Files, by contrast, possesses everything. I’ll go out on a limb and say it is the most complete series within its first six seasons, as it manages to master every single genre at its absolute zenith.

So, what’s the deal with the third installment? Is anyone actually planning on making it happen, or are we just getting ghosted?

One really ought to consult someone more deeply versed in these matters. The last time I delved into this particular subject was during the series' 20th anniversary celebrations. To be precise, back last year, there was a general consensus among the creators regarding their desire to produce a third installment, though they were strictly waiting on a green light from Fox. 🤷

It would be truly wonderful to see Duchovny & Anderson reunited in a new film or series; they’re likely one of the finest—if not *the* finest—acting duos ever put on screen for this kind of genre.
The production would need to be high-caliber, engaging, and possess that unmistakable, quintessential The X-Files aesthetic. 🙂

Is there truly any television duo more iconic than Fox Mulder and Dana Scully?🤷

I haven't kept up with the show in a while. Honestly, PBS could do us all a favor and air some reruns instead of filling the schedule with those "celebrity" types who spend more time dancing, singing, and acting like total idiots than actually performing.

The movie is alright, but I don't really feel like I'm watching a standalone film. It feels more like just another extended episode of the series.

The movie is solid. My biggest gripe, though, is that the series just stretched itself way too thin. Honestly, they should have wrapped everything up within seven seasons instead of letting it drag on until it lost its pulse (how many seasons did they even run for in the end? 😬 ). Don't get me wrong, some of those standalone episodes are absolute classics, but they definitely overplayed their hand. They either should have leaned into an anthology format like The Twilight Zone with disconnected stories, or kept the main story arc to about 25% of the runtime while letting the individual episodes breathe. 🤷

Jeffrey Long said:The movie's actually solid. It’s just that the series itself got stretched out way too thin. Honestly, they should have just wrapped the whole thing up within seven seasons instead of letting it just limp along indefinitely. I mean, how many seasons did they even drag it out for in the end? 😬 Look, some of those standalone episodes are absolute masterpieces, easily some of the best TV out there. But honestly? They completely overplayed their hand here. It feels totally disjointed. They should have either leaned into that anthology vibe like *The Twilight Zone* where every episode is its own thing, or at least balanced the storytelling better. We needed a 75/25 split between the overarching plot and the individual stories, not this flipped version where the main arc just drowns everything else out. 🤷

Nine seasons. That's all we got.

They might have something worth cooking up, since Mulder and Dana Scully still look pretty great!

A NEW SEASON IS COMING!!!
Honestly, I’m still struggling to wrap my head around that third movie. I just couldn't quite grasp why Dana Scully was on that spaceship in the first place, or what he was even doing there with those aliens inside. It felt like they should have just been these dark, shadowy blobs instead, right?

Another season?

Give me a break......

Sometimes it feels like the film and TV industry just doesn't know when to quit and move on to something actually new.

Six episodes, apparently. If they manage to bring back the top-tier writers, this season might actually kill it. They had over a decade to come up with something decent. In my view, the biggest win is getting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson back on screen. That’s a start.

Rick Deckard, you're a fan—what's your take on the return?