The Truth Is Out There: Things You Never Knew About ‘The X-Files’

10. The Theme Song

Composed by Mark Snow, the show’s theme song was actually inspired by “How Soon is Now,” a track from the 1985 album Meat is Murder from the Smiths. Of course, as he struggled (and failed) initially to create the right sound, Snow found himself frustrated, so he dropped his hand on his keyboard and accidentally activated just the right notes he was looking for.

11. It Didn’t Even Crack the Top 100 Shows in Season One

In 1993, you had to put up the big numbers to stay on the air. So, when Mulder and Scully debuted to 12 million viewers, it wasn’t considered successful. In fact, it ranked 105th out of a possible 128th in its first season. While the show eventually raked in more than 25 million viewers on average, it never actually broke into the ratings top ten.

12. The First Film Was Tricky

Chris Carter said that creating the first film based on the series was particularly challenging, as it had to fit in a particular spot in the story. It was supposed to land — in terms of the overall narrative — between seasons five and six. Of course, complicating matters, it was also meant to work as its own standalone film while also appealing to longtime fans.