10 Best 'The X-Files' Episodes Based on True Stories, Ranked

Whether it was the monster of the week or series mythology, The X-Files entertained viewers every week as FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), a believer in the paranormal, and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), a skeptic, investigated unexplained cases for the bureau. The series premiered on Fox in 1993, and its original run lasted until 2002, followed by a reboot in 2016, which lasted two seasons. The series also included two movies and two short-lived spin-offs. It was created by Chris Carter, and an X-Files reboot is reportedly in the works by Ryan Coogler.

While there is no such thing as an X-file and the stories presented in series were fictional, some did have a basis in reality. Writers often turn to real life for inspiration, and the ones working on The X-Files were no exception. Their inspiration came from plenty of sources, from famous urban legends to real-life serial killers, and often expanded on them in a way only The X-Files could. These episodes are proof that the truth is out there indeed.

10

“Unrequited”

Season 4, Episode 16 (1997)

Image via Fox

After a high-ranking military official was murdered, Mulder and Scully raced to find his killer, a Vietnam War veteran, in “Unrequited.” Their investigation led them to Sergeant Nathaniel Teager (Peter LaCroix), a prisoner of war left for dead who had the ability to make himself appear invisible and was using this ability to kill military officials responsible for abandoning spies in Vietnam. Teager’s killings and Mulder and Scully’s investigation uncovered a government conspiracy involving the missing men.

The X-Files had a few episodes dealing with the Vietnam War, and while the others may have been executed better than “Unrequited,” the episode still stands as a haunting commentary on the war and the treatment of its veterans. The episode was written by Carter and Howard Gordon, who were inspired by a segment on 60 Minutes about CIA operatives left behind after the Vietnam War. “Unrequited” also featured a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

9

“Triangle”

Season 6, Episode 3 (1998)

David Duchovny, William B. Davis, and Gillian Anderson in The X-Files, Triangle

In “Triangle,” Mulder found himself transported back to 1939 after traveling to the Bermuda Triangle to investigate the Queen Anne, a ship which went missing during World War II and had suddenly reappeared. While aboard the ship, Mulder—thought to be a German spy—got caught in the middle of the Nazis’ attempt to overtake the boat’s crew. Back in the present day, Scully was determined to find him. The episode was written and directed by Carter.

Although time travel may not exist—yet—the Bermuda Triangle, an area where a number of boats and planes have disappeared, certainly does. While exactly what goes on there is up for debate, what isn’t is the fact that the Queen Anne also existed. The ship was sunk by a German U-boat in 1943. With elements of classic sci-fi and a little bit of The Wizard of Oz, “Triangle” is remembered as one of The X-Files’ best episodes.

8

“Dreamland” and “Dreamland II”

Season 6, Episodes 4 and 5 (1998)

David Duchovny as Mulder and Michael McKean as Morris switch bodies in Dreamland Part 1 in The X-Files.

Mulder and Scully visited Area 51, and after an encounter with the infamous men in black, witnessed the flight of a UFO in “Dreamland.” When the craft departed, Mulder realized he had switched bodies with one of the men, Morris Fletcher (Michael McKean). No one else present realized anything had happened. Fletcher was all too eager to take over Mulder’s life, while Mulder was desperate to get it back. The episode was written by Vince Gilligan.

There have been countless stories about UFO sightings and crashes over the years, but few have become as famous as the stories about Area 51. So it’s no surprise the location appears in pop culture time and time again, and it’s even less surprising that it was the focus of the incredible two-parter “Dreamland.” While it’s unlikely people are switching bodies at Area 51, the episode was a fun look at the life of one of its employees.

7

“The Erlenmeyer Flask”

Season 1, Episode 24 (1994)

Deep Throat in The X-Files Season 1 finale, "The Erlenmeyer Flask". — Deep Throat in The X-Files Season 1 finale, “The Erlenmeyer Flask”.

In the Season 1 finale “The Erlenmeyer Flask,” Deep Throat (Jerry Hardin) gave Mulder a tip regarding government experimentation with alien DNA on humans. During the investigation, Scully found an Erlenmeyer flask labeled “Purity Control,” ultimately revealed to be tied to a doctor first seen in the episode’s opening moments. After being injured, the doctor was treated by paramedics, who were poisoned after being exposed to toxic gas while attempting to do a needle decompression on his chest.

“The Erlenmeyer Flask” was full of the series’ most quintessential sci-fi elements, but episode writer Carter was inspired to include the details of toxic blood after hearing about a real medical anomaly. In 1994, a woman named Gloria Ramirez was admitted to a hospital, and 23 staff members reported symptoms such as fainting spells, nausea, and partial paralysis. While no definite cause was found, her autopsy pointed to the possible use of dimethyl sulfoxide as a home remedy.

6

“Humbug”

Season 2, Episode 20 (1995)

In “Humbug,” Mulder and Scully traveled to a small town in Florida founded and occupied by sideshow performers to investigate the death of the Alligator-Skinned Man. The killer was revealed to be Leonard, the fetus of the conjoined twin of Lanny (Vincent Schiavelli), which was able to detach itself from Lanny. Lanny felt Leonard was searching for a new twin to replace him. The episode was written by Darin Morgan.

Sideshows were at the height of their popularity during the 1800s, but in 1991, the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow brought them back into the mainstream. The sideshow inspired “Humbug,” a fun twist on the monster-of-the-week episodes and a wonderful celebration of the strange. Some of the sideshow’s performers appeared in the episode, including Rose himself, who played Dr. Blockhead, known for “astounding acts of body manipulation and pain endurance.” The episode also referenced other famous sideshow performers.

5

“Paper Clip”

Season 3, Episode 2 (1995)

Mitch Pileggi as Skinner Stands up to CSM in Paper Clip from The X-Files

In “Paper Clip,” Mulder and Scully learned of a secret project just after World War II, dubbed Operation Paperclip, in which the government promised safe haven to Nazi war criminals in exchange for their scientific knowledge to aid in the Space Race—and Mulder’s father was involved. As they investigated, a government hit squad targeted him and Scully and mistakenly killed Scully’s sister, Melissa, instead of her. The episode was written by Carter.

Given The X-Files’ recurring stories dealing with government conspiracies, it’s no surprise that Carter and other writers turned to actual government projects for inspiration. Operation Paperclip was very much real—it didn’t have to do with aliens, but the government was working with over 1,600 Nazis at the height of the Cold War. “Paper Clip” somehow managed to up the stakes of the project, leading to some of the show’s most intense scenes.

4

“Tunguska”

Season 4, Episode 8 (1996)

After receiving a tip from Krycek (Nicholas Lea), Mulder traveled with him to Tunguska, Russia, to investigate a strange black oil coming from a meteorite in “Tunguska.” While there, they were captured and imprisoned in a gulag, which was mining the oil from the meteorite and infecting prisoners with it, Mulder included. Meanwhile, Scully and assistant director Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) were called to testify in a Senate hearing regarding Mulder’s whereabouts. The episode was written by Carter and Frank Spotnitz.

The episode was inspired by and directly referenced the Tunguska Event, an explosion which occurred in 1908 and was caused by an unidentified object—not only was the event referenced in the episode’s title and setting, but Mulder speculated the event might have been caused by the meteorite in the episode. That meteorite also had its roots in reality, as it was inspired by the Allen Hills 84001 meteorite, thought to contain alien life.

3

“Unruhe”

Season 4, Episode 4 (1996)

After a woman was abducted and her boyfriend was murdered, Mulder and Scully’s only clue was a strange photograph depicting the victim screaming in “Unruhe.” Mulder believed the killer had the ability of psychic photography, and it wasn’t long before the woman returned, lobotomized and repeating the word “unruhe,” German for “unrest.” Scully then became the killer’s latest victim—and it turned out he thought he was helping his victims. The episode was written by Vince Gilligan.

The phenomenon of psychic photography may be fictional, but the killer in “Unruhe” was inspired by ones from real life, suggesting the scariest monsters are human after all. As noted in The Official Guide to the X-Files, Volume 3, Gilligan combined the stories of two different killers for his villain—Howard Unruh, whose name serves as the episode’s title, and Ted Serios, who claimed he could capture someone’s thoughts on undeveloped film.

2

“Home”

Season 4, Episode 2 (1996)

In “Home,” Mulder and Scully headed to a small, remote town in Pennsylvania after a group of kids discovered the body of a baby with severe birth defects. Their investigation led them to the Peacock family, a mother and her three sons who were all the products of inbreeding. After learning the FBI was investigating, the brothers went on a killing spree in an attempt to hide their secrets. The episode was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong.

“Home” is rightfully remembered as one of the most unsettling and controversial episodes of The X-Files, and while some of its most shocking elements were fictional, it was inspired by a few things from real life. The family was inspired by the true story of the Ward brothers, four brothers living in New York who attracted widespread attention after one of the brothers was accused of murder. The investigation led to rumors of incest.

1

“Irresistible”

Season 2, Episode 13 (1996)

Mulder used his background as a criminal profiler when he and Scully investigated the case of a serial killer known for keeping mementos from his victims in “Irresistible.” The killer turned out to be a mortuary worker who had kept the hair and fingernails from the dead bodies he worked on, and his victims sometimes saw him as a literal monster. He quickly turned his attention to Scully. The episode was written by Carter.

“Irresistible” was the rare X-Files episode with a story that was largely grounded in reality rather than the supernatural—the episode presented Donnie as the physical embodiment of evil. The episode was inspired by serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, whose victims said he appeared to shape-shift into a demon. It’s also not uncommon for killers like him to be described as “monsters,” and it’s understandable that a killer’s victims would see them this way.