‘The X Files’ to Become Available for Free With Ads on Pluto TV

“The X-Files” is headed to Pluto TV, becoming available beginning on New Year’s Day.

Though the beloved, long-running sci-fi drama is already available to stream on Hulu and Disney+, its addition to Paramount-owned Pluto TV will make it completely free to watch with ad breaks. In addition to its on-demand availability, “The X-Files” will also have a dedicated 24/7 linear channel within Pluto TV’s sci-fi category. The channel will kick off by running through the entire series chronologically, which will be followed by curated weekend marathons.

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“The X-Files” premiered on Fox in 1993 and originally ran for nine seasons until 2002. 20th Century Fox released two “X-Files” films in theaters in 1998 and 2008. Later, the series was revived for Seasons 10 and 11, which aired on Fox in 2016 and 2018. All 11 seasons, which span 218 episodes, will be included in the Pluto TV release.

Created by Chris Carter, “The X-Files” starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who investigate unsolved cases surrounding the paranormal.

When naming “The X-Files” to its list of the 100 greatest TV series of all time in 2023, Variety wrote, “Let’s be clear: Your imagination has to be very large to appreciate the world of ‘The X-Files.’ But thanks to David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (and their undeniable chemistry), fans hung on to every surreal and fantastical thing Mulder and Scully said. Balancing a rich (if eventually frustrating) mythology with its famous ‘Monster of the Week’ episodes — and balancing Duchovny’s true believer with Anderson’s perpetually shocked skeptic, ‘The X-Files’ was a canny, glossy mixture of FBI work with the endless possibilities of the universe. It worked well enough to last nine seasons, two movies and another two seasons in revival, and many fans still believe the truth is out there.”

Besides “The X-Files,” sci-fi series with dedicated Pluto TV channels include “Star Trek,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Stargate” and “Doctor Who.”