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10. BREAKING BAD - You may have known Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan used to write for The X-Files. What you may not have known is he took every opportunity he could to give little nods to the show. From several of the same actors being cast (including Walter, Jesse, Hank, Tuco... the list goes on and on) to a multitude of references within the episodes themselves (One episode of BB is even named after a very famous XF character) it is clear Vince had fond memories of working on the X-Files. Check out Fun.com for a cool list of every easter egg we know of!
9. THEME SONG WITH LYRICS - After paying tribute to Stranger Things, electro-rock artist Septembryo just surprised us with a new version of our favourite theme song complete with lyrics! Now before you go thinking this is another parody, the music video that was released the same day season 11 premiered, is an obvious labor of love made by a longtime fan. Frontman Michael 8 wrote the lyrics using famous X-Files tag lines like "The Truth Is Out There", "Trust No One" and of course "I Want To Believe". And the best part? The band even has their own comic book about (... wait for it...) the supernatural "based on real life experiences". This band, like the truth, is definitely out there.
8. X-FILES COMICS - Speaking of comics! IDW, the publisher who keeps bringing the nostalgia (with titles like Star Trek, G.I. JOE, My Little Pony and more) has done it again with The X-Files comic. Until its big return with season 10 in 2016, the various titles (originally published by Topps comics and rereleased by IDW) were the best way to satisfy your X-Files cravings outside of reruns. Now the publisher continues to release new material in comic form including incredible crossovers you never expected including, Ghostbusters, TMNT, Transformers and more!
7. PORN!!! - Let's face it, there's a lot of porn out there (uhh... so I've heard) and not much of it puts any effort into things like production, acting, or storytelling (...so I've heard). Then comes along "The Sex Files" a fanfic film that puts so much thought into casting, story and even soundtrack you'd swear it didn't know it was a porno! And with one of the only legit complaints against the show being "not enough sex", this porn parody might just be the best thing I've ever watched...5 times already (...so I've heard)
6. SMALLVILLE - Here's one that's a little more subtle, but as soon as you realize it, the signs are everywhere! Some might have picked up on similarities in tone and episode structure, especially in the first 2 seasons. A lot of this has to do with the fact that both The X-Files and Smallville were filmed in Vancouver. That gloomy vibe from filming in a city that never stops raining, coupled with the unmistakable ambient music supplied by Mark Snow, makes the overall tone of both shows nearly identical. Add in the "meteor freaks of the week" combined with an uncanny number of actors who guest stared on both shows and you could say Smallville was the true spiritual successor to The X-Files. Plus, wasn't Chloe really just a blonde version of Mulder? Still not convinced? Check out this incredibly thorough thread of all the similarities connecting both shows.
5. FAN ART - Is there anything better? Unique pieces from true fans that combine everything we love about the characters while breaking the rules at the same time. If you have been lucky enough to stumble across a few of these amazing works of art, you know how beautiful and rare that experience really is. Wether it's an illustration of that romantic moment you've always wished to see between Mulder and Scully, or mashing up their universe with other things you love (like the awesome Tim Burton inspired piece pictured below) these are always a treat to find and share with your friends. If only there was one place to find the very best of them. Oh wait... There is! You're welcome ;)
4. NOVELS - For some of us, there cannot be enough X-Files stuff to sink our teeth into. And for those die hard fans, novels just might be the best gift we could receive. Whether you'd like to relive your favourite episodes in book form or expand the universe with new stories (a la Star Wars) there are plenty for you to choose from. The best part? It's much harder to burn through novels than it is comics or reruns, so these neat additions to your collection will last you a good while before you're in search of your next X-File fix... a little while.
3. REBOOT - One of the best things about being a 90's kid, beside being questionably too young to watch The X-Files was being questionably too old to watch this pioneering CGI classic! Depending on your age you may have not have picked up on the fact that there was an X-Files episode of Reboot. But this wasn't just an unofficial nod to the show like some of the other entries on this list. Watch it again and you'll notice that Gillian Anderson lent her voice to her character, Data Nully. Unfortunately Duchovny wasn't available to voice Fax Modem. Take a trip down 90's nostalgia lane and see the episode fittingly titled "Trust No One" for yourself!
2. MORLEYS - Since first appearing in the pilot episode, without delivering a single line, the ominous villain known as Cigarette Smoking Man (CSM) was able to induce paranoia by simply smoking in the background. Although he technically wasn't the first to smoke the fictional brand of cigarette, CSM was the one to make them famous. Becoming a part of his character (not unlike like Vader's helmet) Morley's became iconic within X-Files lore and has since spawned their appearance in ever greater numbers. Shows like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Lost, and many many more have paid tribute to the show by their use of the fictional brand.
1. THE SIMPSONS - Probably the most well known entry on the list, "The Springfield Files" will forever be an all time favourite. With both Duchovny and Anderson lending their voice talents, the award winning episode captured everything we love about the X-Files and took it to absurdities only The Simpsons could deliver. From Mr. Burns as a peace loving alien to a special guest appearance from Leonard Nimoy (as himself) this episode was everything we could ever want from an X-Files/Simpsons crossover.
Well thats our list. Which is your favourite? Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!
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