10 Shows To Watch if You Love ‘The X-Files’
The staying power of The X-Files is a testament to the perfectly balanced formula of sci-fi, horror, and procedural storytelling that the series is famous for. All of this is driven by the iconic on-screen duo of Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who are as important to the show’s success as its writing (and its elite opening credits).
It can be difficult to find a show that scratches the same itch as The X-Fileswithout feeling like a low-quality rip-off of the series. While nothing can quite fill its shoes, there is a huge range of shows that mix and match the procedural, horror, sci-fi, and conspiracy elements that defined The X-Files.
10
‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)
Created by Damon Lindelof
Three years ago, 2% of the world’s population disappeared spontaneously in an event which has since been dubbed “The Sudden Departure.” Many aspects of day-to-day life have gone back to normal, like Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), who continues to work as a cop while raising his teen daughter, Jill (Margaret Qualley). But, it’s undeniable that something has fundamentally changed. There are few answers as to what happened, and some people have turned to the fringe cult The Guilty Remnant to cope.
Of the shows on this list, The Leftovers is probably the least similar to The X-Files, and the least accessible overall. The Leftovers is ambiguous, challenging, and unlike anything else on television. But, the series’ exploration of heavy and existential themes and reckoning with the unknowable will appeal to X-Files viewers who loved it when the show got deep. It also features some of the best performances TV has ever seen, including amazing work from Carrie Coon, who is currently starring in The White Lotus.
9
‘Servant’ (2019–2023)
Created by Tony Basgallop
Wealthy couple Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and Sean Turner (Toby Kebbell) live in a stunning multi-level brownstone in Philadelphia. Dorothy works as a TV news reporter, and Sean works from home as a high-end consultant chef. To help Dorothy return to work, the pair hire eighteen-year-old Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) to work as a live-in nanny for their infant son, Jericho. Leanne quickly learns that something is amiss with the child, and the Turners gradually grow suspicious of Leanne.
The X-Files loved to keep its viewers guessing and also regularly upped the stakes. Those who were drawn to the mystery at the heart of the series will adore Servant. The underrated series was produced by M. Night Shyamalan and is both visually stylish and narratively interesting. It also features a roster of amazing guest directors, including Julia Ducournau (director of Titane), Kitty Green (director of The Assistant), and Shyamalan himself.
8
‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)
Created by Mike Flanagan
Crockett Island hasn’t been the same since an oil spill obliterated the health of the surrounding water and crippled the island’s thriving fishing industry. With the island’s lifeblood drained, only the most desperate and isolated people remain there. After serving time in prison, former resident Riley (Zach Gilford) returns to Crocket Island for a fresh start. There, he and his childhood sweetheart Erin (Kate Siegel) rekindle their friendship and watch on as a charismatic and magnetic new priest (Hamish Linklater) arrives to head up the island’s small church.
Many of the events that take place throughout Midnight Mass seem very much like the kinds of scenes Mulder and Scully would be called to investigate. In that sense, Midnight Mass is an engaging and dramatic companion piece that explores the way a supernatural event may impact those who experience it. The series uses its supernatural elements as allegorical touchpoints to communicate a broader idea. Although there’s plenty to read into below the surface, Midnight Mass also functions as a great surface-level horror story.
7
‘Watchmen’ (2019)
Created by Damon Lindelof
Decades after the events of the comic book series, when the Chief of the Tulsa Police Department (Don Johnson) is found dead, police detective Angela (Regina King) investigates. The police now wear masks to protect their identities, and Angela uses an alter-ego, Sister Night, to undertake her detective work. Dr Manhattan lives in self-exile, and Adrian Veidt (Jeremy Irons) has not been seen since he engineered a false-flag alien invasion to unite the world.
An adult superhero comic book adaptation may seem like the last place an X-Files lover would go. But, Watchmen has a lot more going for it than your average, hacky comic book adaptation. While the two shows are vastly different, they both examine conspiracy within government and law enforcement, and the impact that otherworldly forces and influences can have culturally. The X-Files took a (in retrospect) surface-level approach to these themes that was appropriate for procedural TV of the era. Conversely, Watchmen has a much more highfalutin goal it’s aiming to achieve with its exploration of these themes.
6
‘The Outsider’ (2020)
Created by Richard Price
A small town in Georgia is shaken when a young local boy is violently murdered. The police investigation into the crime quickly implicates the town’s little league coach, Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), in the boy’s death. This revelation comes as a surprise to everyone who knows Terry. It also comes as a surprise to Terry himself, who has very compelling evidence to suggest that he was in another state at the time of the crime. Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) leads the investigation and is later joined by private investigator Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo).
Part of what makes The X-Files so engaging is the mix of real-world detective work and otherworldly crimes. Examining the unexplained or the supernatural through a bureaucratic lens is like catnip for those who love genre storytelling with procedural features. All of those elements are represented in The Outsider. Based on a Stephen King novel of the same name, The Outsider takes the procedural elements and the hint of supernatural interference and spreads them out over one slow-burning season. The Outsider is stoic, meditative, and less pacey than The X-Files, but the A-list cast and dark themes reward audience patience.
5
‘Black Mirror’ (2011–)
Created by Charlie Brooker
Each episode of Black Mirror tells its own contained science fiction story about the horrors of technology and the perils of actually getting what you wish for. Some episodes are more straightforward, like “The National Anthem,” which follows the kidnapping of a British princess and the unsavory demands her hostage taker makes of the British Prime Minister. Others are more elaborate and sophisticated, like “USS Callister,” which follows Robert’s (Jesse Plemons) intense virtual reality setup that allows him to be the captain of a Star Trek-like spaceship and crew.
What started as a three-episode series in the UK exploded into the mainstream and would ultimately become a household name that is synonymous with science-fiction plot twists. Black Mirror is, in many ways, The Twilight Zone for a new, cynical generation. Viewers may not love every episode of the anthology-style series. But, X-Files fans will find plenty of Black Mirror episodes right up their alley. “White Bear” and “Playtest” are great starting points for viewers of The X-Files. And, those who love the show’s bee-based subplots, the episode “Hated in the Nation” is a great companion piece to the bee stories.
4
‘Lost’ (2004–2010)
Created by Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof
A commercial plane flying from Sydney to Los Angeles crashes over the South Pacific Ocean. The survivors find themselves on a deserted island with no immediate hope of rescue. Among the survivors are surgeon Jack Shepard (Matthew Fox), fugitive Kate Austen (Evangeline Lilly), conman Sawyer (Josh Holloway), and English rock star Charlie (Dominic Monaghan). Regular flashbacks add insight into the secrets and pasts of the survivors, who begin to suspect the island also has its own secrets.
Viewers may not have known it at the time, but the style and format of Lost would have a significant impact on 21st-century television. The ensemble cast, ‘mystery-box’ format, and serialized storytelling made the series appointment viewing when it was airing. The focus on mysteries and suspense also made Lost a huge talking point among fans who were much more invested in speculation and theories than the average TV viewer. While the format and characters are markedly different from The X-Files, mystery and conspiracy lovers will find plenty of value in Lost.
3
‘Evil’ (2019–2024)
Created by Michelle King and Robert King
Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) is asked to assist the Catholic Church in the investigation of supernatural events. Kristen is a forensic psychologist and is initially reluctant, but ultimately agrees. She is joined by Catholic priest David Acosta (Mike Colter) and Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi) who manages the technical needs and equipment required for the team’s work. Skeptic Kristen and believer David frequently disagree about religion and the supernatural.
In earlier seasons, Evil very much had a “monster of the week” vibe that lovers of The X-Files can get behind. The show also leans into the believer and skeptic dynamic with its two leads. This dynamic was a huge part of the success of The X-Files and allowed for character-driven conflict and tension on-top of the eerie supernatural and extraterrestrial stories. It’s clear from Evil that supernatural and procedural elements go hand-in-hand.
2
‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964 and 1985–1989)
Created by Rod Serling
An anthology series featuring a range of speculative fiction, sci-fi and horror stories may not seem novel by today’s standards, but The Twilight Zone put the format on the map. The storytelling and craft of the show are second to none, and in a time of traditional and conservative values, the series could be quite subversive. The show’s staying power is in part due to how relevant and lasting many of its moral lessons are to this day. For example, in the episode “The Obsolete Man,” a totalitarian state has banned books, and determined that librarians, among others, are obsolete.
While The X-Files wasn’t particularly interested in social or political commentary to the same degree, it’s clear that series creator Chris Carter had the same love of mystery and genre as Twilight Zone creator Rod Sterling. Unsurprisingly, The Twilight Zone was part of the inspiration for The X-Files. Viewers who may have avoided The Twilight Zone due to the show’s age will be surprised by the sharp writing, engaging craft and modern perspectives and stories explored throughout the series.
1
‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)
Created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci
The FBI creates a Fringe Division to use cutting-edge science to investigate unexplained occurrences which might be related to a parallel universe. The team works in Boston and consists of FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), eccentric scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble) and his son Peter (Joshua Jackson).
Of all the series on this list, Fringe is certainly the one that owes the most to The X-Files. In earlier seasons, the show followed the tried and true “mystery of the week” approach for its format. But as time went on and the characters and plot lines developed, Fringe‘s storytelling got more serialized. This gradually changing mix of procedural elements and longer-form plot lines will be perfect for viewers who loved the variety of stories explored throughout The X-Files.
