The X-Files, widely regarded as the standout science fiction series of the 1990s, is now available to stream for free on Pluto TV, more than three decades after it first aired. Created by Chris Carter, the show followed FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigated paranormal cases ranging from alien encounters to urban legends and ghost stories, with its enduring appeal resting on the contrasting worldviews of its two leads.

Played by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, Mulder was the believer shaped by his sister's childhood alien abduction, while Scully was the scientifically minded sceptic, a dynamic that let audiences identify with either character. The series ran for nine seasons in its original run, plus two later revival seasons, blending horror, action and comedy across standalone cases and an ongoing mythology. Attempts to replace the leads in later seasons, including Robert Patrick's Agent Doggett and Annabeth Gish's character, failed to resonate with fans, underlining how central the Mulder-Scully relationship was to the show's success.