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The X-Files, the science-fiction TV show that shot David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson into stardom, began airing in 1993, aired for several years on FOX, and the network even produced a reboot in 2016. The X-Files is a critically-acclaimed show for those who love all things huge-government-conspiracy-related (aliens, pharmacy company plots, ghosts, etc). Where is the popular TV show streaming now?

‘The X-Files’ is now streaming all 11 seasons on Hulu

The X-Files
Agent Fox Mulder, played by David Duchovny and Agent Dana Scully, played by Gillian Anderson in The X-Files | FOX Image Collection via Getty Images

While the FOX show was streaming on Netflix until recently, Hulu now hosts The X-Files.

Hulu has all of the episodes from the original run of the series — which began in 1993 and ran until 2002 — as well as the X-Files reboot. FOX’s reboot ran from 2016 through 2018. In total, there are 11 seasons of the show available on Hulu’s platform.

Critics thought ‘The X-Files’ was going to get canceled in season 1

When The X-Files originally aired in the early 90s, Entertainment Weekly announced: “This show is a goner.” As the magazine brought up, a Friday-airing science fiction show hardly had a chance.

However, the series became one of the most successful shows of the decade, become a cult classic in the genre. Ranker reported:

The X-Files would go on to be the longest-running North American sci-fi TV series before being surpassed by Stargate SG-1 in 2007. SG-1 was surpassed in 2011 by Smallville for the title.

However, the showrunner Chris Charter told Smithsonian magazine: “I actually resisted the ‘science fiction’ label in the beginning, because the show is actually based in science.” Carter continued:

I think Steven Spielberg called Close Encounters of the Third Kind ‘speculative science; and I would say The X-Files, for me, has always fit more into that category

Cast members Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny didn’t believe in the series, either

Per IndieWire, stars of The X-Files, actors Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, said in 2013: “it took until season three … to realize that their show might survive.”

The actors were just happy to have the work.

“We needed to live,” Duchovny said at PaleyFest. “We just wanted a job.”

“I thought it would tank,” Anderson added.

The X-Files
Agents Scully and Mulder’s FBI’s photo IDs and badge from the FOX TV series | John Phillips/Getty Images
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Comedian Kumail Nanjiani hosts a podcast about the TV show called ‘The X-Files Files’

Kumail Nanjiani is the stand-up comedian and actor known for his roles on Portlandia, Silicon Valley, and more recently, in the movie The Lovebirds. He hosts a podcast named The X-Files Files, on which he discusses each episode of the series with a guest.

In some episodes, Nanjani interviews writers, executives, and cast members from the sci-fi series.

It’s a great way to watch (or re-watch) an old favorite: watch a couple of episodes of The X-Files on Hulu, then listen to Nanjiani’s podcast recap. The series is a fun blast to the past; it involves aliens, giant 90s cell phones, and David Duchovny in a Speedo. What else do you need?

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