The X-Files Top 30 Episodes Ranked – Looper (2023)

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The truth is out there, and the chronicle of his search is the essence of one of the most prolific television series to ever hit the airwaves. "X-file" ran for nine seasons from 1993 to 2002 and returned for two more seasons starting in 2016. It dominated television throughout the '90s with its intriguing conspiracy plots and controversial horror. The series' success was thanks to its enigmatic duo of stars (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson), genre-bending suspense and a brilliant writing team, not to mention an opening song that has become one of the most recognizable catchphrases in history.

Before its creation, the union of science fiction and mass appeal was considered unattainable. It turns out that everyone wants to believe. Aliens, paranormal monsters, and otherworldly horror are among a number of elements featured throughout the show's resoundingly positive presentation. "The X-Files" continues to garner admiration more than 25 years after the series' debut, and boasts a staggering 218 episodes. Picking out the cream of the crop is tough when most of the sampler pool rises to the top, but we've combed through the show's overwhelming resume and endured the shudder to bring you the 30 Best Episodes of "The X-Files" Ranked .

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"Tooms" is a sequel to the previously aired episode, "Squeeze". It stars Doug Hutchison as a humanoid creature that hibernates for 30 years at a time and emerges to consume human livers. He comes with a distinct ability to distort his body to fit through extremely small openings. This episode is packed with everything we love about The X-Files: monsters, camaraderie, and the sinister presence of the Smoking Man. Hutchison's bizarre portrayal of Eugene Tooms also marks the highlight of the actor's career, as the show makes the most of the slimy essence he so deftly portrays.

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Even if you're an avid fan of The X-Files, it may have been some time since you revisited the episode that started it all. The pilot episode of the series lays the groundwork for the plot efficiently while quickly developing the characters of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The latter is initially brought into the X-Files department to debunk Mulder and his theories, but their first case together is wrought with so many unexplained factors that he can't help but wander further down the rabbit hole. It's a classic example of starting a successful series.

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Most people would love the gift of immortality, but Alfred Fellig (Geoffrey Lewis) considers it a curse. He is the focus in "Tithonus", which tells the story of a man who cannot die. His nights are spent as a photographer with a habit of arriving before the moment of death of people. The goal behind the hobby of him is a desperate attempt to capture an image of death so that he can look you in the face and finally die. Scully's skepticism is really put to the test in this episode, and we honestly can't understand having second thoughts after what she's survived here.

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Told in "COPS" style, this episode tells a fantastic story of true fear. Mulder and Scully arrive to help local law enforcement with victims who claim to be seeing a mysterious monster. The difficulty arises when each victim claims to see the monster in a different appearance, so Mulder theorizes that the entity changes shape to suit each individual's worst fears. As it turns out, the creature really targets those who exhibit raw, primal fear. It's an episode of "The X-Files" wrapped up in one package, but it still packs the show's signature terror.

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The fate of the best agents on the show always hangs in the balance. "Memento Mori" bases this quality on the grim reality of Scully facing a cancerous tumor. Scully operates under the assumption that the tumor is inoperable, but Mulder and Skinner refuse to accept her fate. They embark on an investigative journey that involves more alien bounty hunter machinations and a face-to-face encounter with the cigarette smoker. It's another "X-Files" episode that shows Scully and Mulder's unique bond, as well as the unspoken sacrifices suffered by Skinner.

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In this episode of "The X-Files," Mulder and Scully venture into a national forest to investigate the disappearance of a group of loggers. As viewers, we are aware of their demise: they were eaten by a swarm of glowing green insects. The agents are trapped when the ecoterrorists' caltrops disable their vehicles, and the plot reveals that the convicted loggers were illegally felling centuries-old trees. Unfortunately for them, one of these trees contained an invasive species of insect that was dormant. These ancient and energetic predators are repelled by light and rampage in the dark.

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The classic genius story through the lens of The X-Files certainly deserves inclusion on this list. The genius in question is mischievous and can be seen portrayed with the likes of Mussolini and Richard Nixon. It all begins when Scully and Mulder are called in to investigate the cause of a man's mouth being magically sealed. When the path leads them to a trailer home, they find a huge boat sitting in the small backyard of the house. "Je Souhaite" is a classic "be careful what you wish for" tale told only by the creators of one of the greatest sci-fi shows of all time.

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This whimsical story must have been born out of the writer's shared hatred of HOAs. In a community called Falls at Arcadia, a mysterious creature materializes at night and kills community members who go against any of the association's guidelines. Mulder and Scully go undercover to investigate the disappearances in the neighborhood and end up having to deal with a tulpa, a Tibetan concept that involves the conjuring of beings through spiritual energy. "Arcadia" is a perfect representation of when "The X-Files" successfully combined horror and humor.

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An essential part of the "X-Files" canon, "Unusual Suspects" delves into the origin story of The Lone Gunmen. The trio get caught up in government espionage when they inadvertently help a woman break into a government computer network. They try to find out the truth, but that of course raises even more questions. Interestingly, this episode was conceived out of necessity: the creators had limited access to their stars while filming the movie "The X-Files" and needed an episode to help fill their void. The result is one of the funniest backstories in the series.

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"Pusher" delves into comic book territory with his superpower involved. It tells the story of a man named Robert Patrick Modell (Robert Wisden), who has the ability to convince others to do whatever he wants. The sociopathic antagonist goes so far as to force a SWAT lieutenant to pour gasoline on himself and set himself on fire. Capturing him only results in him using his ability to get the judge to release him. It's one of the most emotional episodes of the series, showing us that the game of Russian roulette can get even scarier.

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Before his hilarious portrayal of Hal in "malcolm in the middle, Bryan Cranston played Patrick Crump in this incredible episode of the sixth season. After a high-speed car chase, police officers pull Crump out of his vehicle and his passenger suddenly begins to bang her head against the window until she explodes. Events lead Mulder to travel with Crump, who suffers from an abnormal condition that increases the pressure in his head. The only way to relieve the pressure is to travel west at high speed. The episode was written by "Breaking Bad' creator Vince Gilligan, and arguably helped pave the way for one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

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This episode is a real mind blower. It strengthens the bond between Mulder and Scully and distorts any sense of reality. The story begins with a couple falling asleep in bed, in each other's arms, only to see their fallen remains lying in a field. When Mulder and Scully are sent to investigate, they unknowingly stumble upon the same hallucinogen that attacked the couple so that a mysterious cave nearby could slowly digest its victims. We find ourselves receivingBeginvibrate as you watch this must-see episode of "The X-Files."

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The main character in this episode is a former FBI agent who claims to have been abducted by aliens several years earlier. By the time "Duane Barry" takes place, he is now a patient in a mental institution with violent tendencies. His escape results in a hostage situation at a local travel agency, and due to claims of alien abduction of him, Fox Mulder is called to the scene. Theories surrounding his condition suggest that Barry is a delusional psychopath, but this is The X-Files and nothing is as it seems at first glance.

The opening of "Humbug" implies a certain classic disorientation. A mysterious figure is shown sneaking into a backyard pool with two brothers. After a moment of suspense, he appears and scares the boys. The figure that scares them is known as the Alligator Man and is the father of the child. After the kids go inside, the Alligator Man is attacked by another mysterious figure. Scully and Mulder are hired to investigate the case, which we learn is the latest addition to a 28-year series of similar attacks. The episode is set in a community of former circus performers, and it's a spooky tale that we can safely say isn't going in any direction you'd suspect.

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After an appearance on "The Jerry Springer Show," Mulder's paranormal experience is requested by a single mother with an intriguing backstory: she claims to have been impregnated by an unknown presence 18 years earlier. Now a similar attack has occurred and the woman is pregnant again. Eventually, Mulder and Scully's investigation leads them to some kind of mad scientist. "The Post-Modern Prometheus" is an entertaining retelling of the classic Frankenstein story and reminds us that while suspense and terror are a staple of The X-Files, the show's creators know how to have a good time.

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"The X-Files" never hesitates to explore the mythos that came before it, as seen in "Triangle," which delves into the mystique contained within the Bermuda Triangle. Before the opening tune, Mulder is shown floating among the wreckage of a small ship. British sailors fish him out of the water and question him about his origin. When Mulder declares his position in the FBI, the Marines state that they have never heard of such an organization. Events at FBI headquarters inform us that Mulder went looking for a ship that went missing in 1939, and it appears he found it.

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The title "Folie à Deux" is also a term for shared psychosis, which alludes to the story contained in this "X-Files" season 5 episode. Initially, Mulder assumes he's being sent to Kansas City to assess the possibility of a threat after a recorded manifesto mentions a company called VinylRight. A company employee believes that his boss is secretly an insect-like monster that is turning employees into undead minions. After a hostage situation results in the death of the employee in question, Mulder begins to see things that make him wonder if the man's claims are true.

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"Ice" begins with a confrontation between two men at an isolated research station in Alaska. Instead of shooting each other, the men point their guns at each other and pull the trigger. Mulder and Scully are sent to investigate and discover the existence of alien worms that burrow into the neck of their victims. These parasites serve an unknown purpose, but we have found that they do not like to be in the same room with others of their kind. When Mulder and Scully's pilot is killed, leaving the agents stranded at the station, seeking the truth becomes a matter of life and death.

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A crucial element of The X-Files has always been Fox Mulder's willingness to believe. "Paper Hearts" throws a wrench into his belief system with the introduction of serial killer John Lee Roche, one of the first killers profiled by Mulder. Years of hunting down the killer have created a unique connection between the two, and Roche uses that to his advantage. Using Mulder's tragic past, the serial killer manipulates Fox into questioning everything. This episode is great for building the already fascinating character of David Duchovny.

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In the opening moments of "Colony", Mulder is rushed to an Arctic hospital with a severe case of hypothermia. As the doctors bathe him in hot water, Scully bursts through the door to tell them that the cold is what keeps him alive. Mulder's heart monitor deflates and we're launched into the iconic opening sequence of the show. This episode introduces the Alien Bounty Hunters (aliens that possess shape-shifting abilities and hunt alien/human hybrids) and contains the return of Mulder's sister, who was abducted by aliens when Fox was a child.

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"Monday" is a fun and mind-blowing addition to the "X-Files" series. The cold opening shows Mulder tending to a gunshot wound while Scully tends to him. The two are in the middle of a bank robbery gone wrong, and the robber has a bomb strapped to his chest. When the police break into the building, the robber detonates the bomb, apparently killing everyone. But unfortunately! Mulder wakes up in his waterbed. In the essence of "groundhog day”, the thief's girlfriend has been trapped in a time loop for an undisclosed amount of time, and breaking the time anomaly depends on Mulder's willingness to believe.

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Mulder and Scully are sent to West Virginia to investigate the birth of five babies with tails. Their investigative skills lead them to a janitor who works at the hospital named Eddie. This hilarious episode features screenwriter Darin Morgan as Eddie Van Blundht, a mischievous criminal with a unique ability. As the plot unfolds, we find out that Eddie can shapeshift, which obviously poses a lot of difficulty for the agents. Small Potatoes aims to brighten up a gloomy fourth season of The X-Files, and we'd say it was a success.

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Three episodes on our Top 30 list were written by writer Darin Morgan (high marks considering he only wrote four episodes), and this addition to the "X-Files" repertoire represents his wonderful combination of humor and mystery. kidnapping of two teenagers. Scully and Mulder interview the two, as well as someone who claims to have witnessed the kidnapping. "José Chung's From Outer Space" is a hilarious and raunchy episode involving conflicting testimony, a sci-fi soap opera, and a police law that audibly replaces your profanity with a "beep."

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"Home" has become a staple for horror television since it first aired in October 1996. As reported byThe New York Times newspaper, ran into trouble with the TV ratings system (TV's Parental Guidelines rating system was introduced just two months after it aired) and was actually banned from airing for three years after its initial airing. The episode begins with a group of inbred brothers (the peacocks) burying a deformed baby in a field and continues the terror train to the end. It's a true "X-Files" monster of the week installment, and it showed us that its creators aren't afraid to push the envelope. We'd say two brothers bludgeoned a sheriff and his wife to death while Johnny Mathis'"wonderful wonderfulThe play leaves its message very clear.

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The season 1 finale of "The X-Files" contains a heavy dose of conspiracy theory. The episode begins with a high-speed police chase that ends with the driver being shot. Although he escapes, he leaves behind green blood, leading to the arrival of Mulder and Scully. Deep Throat (Jerry Hardin) appears and tells Mulder to dig deeper. An Erlenmeyer flask found at a related crime scene is revealed to have a liquid of extraterrestrial origin inside it, and all the major players come into play. This episode contains all the "X-Files" mystery we've come to love and lays the groundwork for future conspiracies on the show.

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The mystery of the Smoking Man is full of intrigue, and "Reflections of a Smoking Man" delves into his past without exactly robbing us of the man's mystique. In particular, his relationship with Mulder's father helps explain why Fox was allowed to continue his obsessive investigation into the government's best-kept secrets. Elsewhere, this chain-smoking adversary was involved in the Roswell UFO landing, the JFK assassination, and the controversy behind the Rodney King trial. At the end of the day, "Reflections of a Cigarette Smoker" expands on his story and is essential to the "X-Files" canon.

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This episode picks up the cliffhanger left over from Season 2, where Mulder's death was left in limbo. Scully, Skinner and the smoker believe that Mulder is dead. Upon his return, we receive an impressive amount of information, including the past sins of Mulder's father, more information about his sister, and government alien experiments dating back to World War II. Any "X-Files" fan would be lost without the information contained in "Paper Clip." This episode also expands the role of Skinner (an unsung hero of the series) and establishes him as an ally to Scully and Mulder.

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Episodes of "X-Files" bounce deftly between monster-of-the-week episodes and an overarching plot involving government conspiracies; "Anasazi" is the latter. Mulder is off balance throughout his life, and his evasion of death and banishment from the FBI is entirely due to Scully's calm thinking. The appearance of a tape containing all of the government's UFO information sets off a chain of events involving the cigarette smoker and Mulder's father. Ultimately, "Anasazi" elevates Scully and Mulder's relationship into something truly unique and expands on a story that would continue for the duration of "The X-Files."

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It's well known that "The X-Files" is an expert in suspense, but the series also knows not to take itself too seriously. Throughout the seasons there are episodes with a wonderful sense of humor that help ground the series and keep us on our toes. "Bad Blood" is one such episode. This episode is another classic written by Vince Gilligan. It contains an open cold with Mulder killing a teenager who he believes to be a vampire, only to discover false teeth in the deceased boy's mouth. The hijinx revolves around Mulder and Scully's separate versions of events as they try to explain themselves to their superiors. Although the subject seems dark, it might help to know that vampires are very real in this world, and "The X-Files" knows how to pull off comedy.

This episode launched "The X-Files" from a cult hit to a massive phenomenon. cattleTwo Primetime Emmy Awards(one for screenwriter Darin Morgan and one for its guest star, Peter Boyle), beating hit shows like "ER" and "NYPD Blue." The episode's plot revolves around an eccentric forecaster (Boyle) with the ability to predict people's deaths. Through a series of events, he joins forces with Mulder and Scully to capture a serial killer who is targeting psychics. It's a departure from the show's typical paranormal and alien content and turns to the existential with a cheeky smile. "Clyde Buckman's Final Repose" opened the door to countless "X-Files" stories and paved the way for countless sci-fi shows to come. It deserves its place in history and at the top of this list.