What Does ‘The X-Files’ Mean Now in a World of Conspiracy Theories?

In the early 1990s, a small genre series about UFOs and paranormal phenomena, inspired by the short-lived Kolchak, premiered on Fox. Despite airing on the "Friday night death slot," this new series, mysteriously named The X-Files, pulled in 12 million viewers and quickly became one of the highest-rated television programs of the era. Though it never reached the "top 10 in viewership," the series came close on more than one occasion, and over the years grew a strong cult following that justified two feature films, two revival seasons, various comic books, video games, and more. Needless to say, The X-Files is something of a cultural phenomenon, and it's not hard to understand why.