The X-Files - Fight the Future (1998)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  After The success of the show, it was obvious that a film would conclude it's terrific run. X Files: Fight The Future is a terrific Sci Fi Horror film with a fairly good story and decent enough acting to keep one entertained. Moulder and Scully are back one the trail of the… More
  After The success of the show, it was obvious that a film would conclude it's terrific run. X Files: Fight The Future is a terrific Sci Fi Horror film with a fairly good story and decent enough acting to keep one entertained. Moulder and Scully are back one the trail of the paranormal, and this film succeeds in providing the viewer with head scratching questions. This is an enjoyable film that will appeal to Sci Fi fans as well as Horror fans. The story steadily builds up to a tense climax and pays off, and this film ends on a high note. The film will appeal to diehard fans of the series. The film has a terrific atmosphere of mystery and doubt. All the elements that made the TV show great are here and the finished product is very well done. The reason the film works so well is that they were able to keep all the key elements that made the show entertaining and great while expanding the plot to be more complex, intriguing, mysterious and horrifying. This film is a fairly good attempt for the show to transcend to the big screen. There are enough thrills to keep diehard fans interested. And people who haven't watched the show will probably enjoy the film as well. A film that full of mystery, thrills, horror and good old crime drama, this is one film that can appeal to a broad audience, and not just Horror fans or Sci Fi fans. A terrific film that has been been very well crafted, entertaining and well written, this is a film that even though flawed will definitely entertain you if you're in the mood for something different. This film is a change of pace from many of the Sci Fi / Horror films that we have seen.

• Tony G

  
  Released in between two seasons, Fight the Future was a sad cop-out that only true fans could enjoy (I am one of them).

• xGary X

  
  A young boy in Texas is infected by a mysterious contageon and when it seems as if an entire office building is destroyed by a phoney terrorist attack just to cover it up, Mulder and Scully investigate. I was a big fan of the X-Files in the beginning but it became increasingly obvious… More
  A young boy in Texas is infected by a mysterious contageon and when it seems as if an entire office building is destroyed by a phoney terrorist attack just to cover it up, Mulder and Scully investigate. I was a big fan of the X-Files in the beginning but it became increasingly obvious that the alien conspiracy storyline was just being made up as they went, leading to one unsatisfying plot development after another that never contained any real answers. At the time, everyone hoped that Fight The Future would finally explain all but when this turned out to be yet another load of half answered questions it meant exasperation and disillusionment all round. On revisiting it, I found it a lot easier to be objective and I must admit that knowing what happens afterward, the film actually makes a lot more sense. It opens very strongly with the usual banter from the extremely likable leads and attractive visuals with good use of the cinematic media giving it the epic sweep it needed to make the translation to the big screen. Unfortunately the plot follows the typical alien conspiracy formula with the usual mysterious source coming to Mulder in a back alleys and Scully getting kidnapped and experimented on YET AGAIN, but it does have some decent set pieces and has stood up quite well on the whole. But because of the overly familiar plot devices it does just feel like a two parter and as such will be completely incomprehensible to the casual viewer. Recommended for fans, but others shouldn't really bother to try wrap their heads around it.

• Jason O

  
  I was definitely in the minority when I saw this film. I had never watched the TV show. But I loved the movie, and it made me wish I had watched the show.

• Anthony L

  
  A good film version of the series, a little more generous obviously but I guess you either love the X-Files or you don't!

• Dean !

  
  This is an ok film which does follow some of the events from the series but not as good as I had hoped.

• Al S

  
  A teriffic film. A brilliant T.V to film adaptation of this classic sci-fi series. It's a smart, sharp, sensational and intelligent edge of your seat thriller filled with sizzeling suspense, dazzeling excitment, non-stop action and great speacial effects. It's cool, fun and… More
  A teriffic film. A brilliant T.V to film adaptation of this classic sci-fi series. It's a smart, sharp, sensational and intelligent edge of your seat thriller filled with sizzeling suspense, dazzeling excitment, non-stop action and great speacial effects. It's cool, fun and relentlessly tense. An exhilerating, unforgettable and pulse-pounding ride. A fine and well-crafted film. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are outstanding, showing their wonderful chemistry on the big screen and dosent fail to satisfy for a minute. A great and explosive slice of fantastic entertainment. It hits all the right notes and makes you want to see more. It's truly magnificent and simply awsome.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>Well-Manicured Man: Your aliens, Agent Mulder, your little green men arrived here millions of years ago. </i> Please note that before seeing this film I have not seen a single episode of the X-Files TV series. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I just… More
  <i>Well-Manicured Man: Your aliens, Agent Mulder, your little green men arrived here millions of years ago. </i> Please note that before seeing this film I have not seen a single episode of the X-Files TV series. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, I just thought that it would be nice to immerse myself into the X-Files fandom before seeing the newly released sequel (Still watching it even if it sucks). Well, after watching this one I'm thinking of buying all the seasons of the series. This film as a stand alone was very impressive. I'm not really a fanatic when it comes to the alien mythos but if something alien in epic proportions comes my way, count me in. I'm thinking of delving myself in the world of X-Files but right now I'm busy as a bee so this one is kind of a long term goal for me. In fact, come to think of it I'm putting this one on my bucket list: Watch the whole TV series X-Files. Yeah, that's a great idea. So anyhoo. I must say for the first hour or so I was very impressed. The chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson was wonderful. The acting was excellent (especially Anderson's). The suspense was excellent and the movie gave you just enough conspiracy twists and turns to keep you excited. However, once the movie got into Antarctica it just seemed kinda over the top. The movie was really great, but I wasn't too impressed with the ending. And for that, I give it <b>3.5/5</b>

• Justin Y

  
  The <i>X-Files</i> series is tops when it comes to science fiction. Science fiction with a good hint of realism to it. This movie is no exception.<p>It is possible to watch this film without being a fan of the show or watching the TV episodes, but it REALLY helps.… More
  The <i>X-Files</i> series is tops when it comes to science fiction. Science fiction with a good hint of realism to it. This movie is no exception.<p>It is possible to watch this film without being a fan of the show or watching the TV episodes, but it REALLY helps. The story and the characters will all make much more sense if you have some understanding of the series, especially the episodes that tie into the "black ooze" storyline.</p><p>The plot for this movie is everything a science fiction lover will enjoy. A bit more as well. The flow of the movie is moderate with little action, although there are some intense scenes. That is the way the <i>X-Files</i> is meant to be. It does feel a little different from the TV episodes and my guess is that this film tries to cater to people who don't watch the series.</p><p>There isn't a whole lot of CG in this film, but that helps to keep the realism factor that I mentioned earlier in check. If you are expecting alien versus human fights and shootings, this isn't the film for you.</p><p>David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have the same great chemistry together as they've shown throughout the series. Other intricate characters pop up as well, including Mitch Pileggi and William B. Davis as the cancer man. Armin Mueller-Stahl even finds himself with an important part. Oh yes, I can't forget to mention the small role from the Lone Gunmen.</p><p><i>The X-Files: Fight the Future</i> is a good movie, which stems from a TV series. It also has a fantastic ending. Don't be afraid to watch this.

• Aaron N

  
  [to a bartender, while drinking] Mulder: I'm the key figure in an ongoing government charade, the plot to conceal the truth about the existence of extraterrestrials. It's a global conspiracy, actually, with key players in the highest levels of power, that reaches down into… More
  [to a bartender, while drinking] Mulder: I'm the key figure in an ongoing government charade, the plot to conceal the truth about the existence of extraterrestrials. It's a global conspiracy, actually, with key players in the highest levels of power, that reaches down into the lives of every man, woman, and child on this planet, so, of course, no one believes me. I'm an annoyance to my superiors, a joke to my peers. They call me Spooky. Spooky Mulder, whose sister was abducted by aliens when he was just a kid and who now chases after little green men with a badge and a gun, shouting to the heavens or to anyone who will listen that the fix is in, that the sky is falling and when it hits it's gonna be the shit-storm of all time. I remember seeing this movie during the summer of 98 when it came out, which happen to also be the peak time of my interest in the plot of The X-Files. This movie works because it both bridges the gap between the 5th and 6th seasons and works fairly well for anyone not too familiar with the show. Basically, The branch of the FBI concerning the X-files has been closed down by the end of the 5th season, and this movie continues on with the lives of agents Mulder and Scully as regular feds. However, there is still a conspiracy out there that Mulder finds his way into getting the two of them involved more deeply in. The story revolves around mysterious figures, ancient artifacts, and the continuing reveal of a massive government conspiracy at work, and Mulder desperately seeking answers, while Scully tags along. What makes the movie works especially well is the continuing great chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson in their roles, as well as a number of cool scenes throughout. The movie format also provides some initiative to put in some cooler, higher budget effects and action stuff and bid for a quality supporting cast that includes Armin Mueller-Stahl, Martin Landau, and Blythe Danner. Still, the running conspiracy plot, the interactions between Mulder and Scully, and the eerily appropriate theme music all make this movie work as a great extension from the show. Mulder: Is this Dr. Kurzweil's residence? Detective: You got some business with him? Mulder: I'm looking for him. Detective: Looking for him for what? [Mulder shows his ID] Detective: Hey, the Feds are looking for him, too. Real nice business he's got, huh? Mulder: What's that? Detective: Selling naked pictures of little kids over his computer. You looking for him for some other reason? Mulder: Yeah, I had an appointment for a pelvic examination.

• David L

  
  This is likely to be one of my shorter reviews because I don't wanna give to much away but to start off. The X-Files is probably one of my favorite TV shows and this movie proved to be well up to standard. In order to understand the content fully, it's wise to have an… More
  This is likely to be one of my shorter reviews because I don't wanna give to much away but to start off. The X-Files is probably one of my favorite TV shows and this movie proved to be well up to standard. In order to understand the content fully, it's wise to have an up-to-date account of the television show and associated conspiracies otherwise you'll probably end up sitting there throughout the whole thing thinking "huh?" If you can grasp the whole concept though, it's an excellent movie full of all the usual shady characters and written in a most entertaining and witty fashion. Both Duchovny and Anderson do a great job of portraying Mulder and Scully respectively up on the big screen. The film is a credit to all involved. This a movie well worth checking out for fans and even people who just want to sample the series in a two hour dose.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Like a 2hr episode, but it was made before the series went downhill, so it's at least watchable.

• Curtis L

  
  Hmmm... Like all shows, it was just an episode only longer. And this time, like all episodes of x-files doesn't tell you crap.

• Steve K

  
  #1 on my list of TV shows that I started out loving and then went on to completely fold into a heap of crap. The movie got points for answering some questions, but that's about it. They should have answered those questions in the damn show.

• Jason S

  
  It took place between seasons and I think that was the problem. Scully sees the aliens and even a ship close up but when you tuned in the next season it was all forgotten and she doubted everything again.

• Tom E

  
  Not as good as the TV show --

• Dean M

  
  Two thumbs up for two FBI agents who goes into a motion picture after the final of TV's season five. They never give up to shut down their 'X-Files'.

• Michael G

  
  Loved it at the time, but now?

• Andy S

  
  Very faithful to the show and its story. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are as awesome as ever. There's not really much to say, except that if you're a fan of the show, it's a must-see. If not, it's still worth watching anyway, though to a lesser extent.

• Alec B

  
  There have been better episodes of the show (some, in my view, rank with the best television ever done), but the film generally delivers on what it promises and still works almost 15 years after its release. The conspiracy arc of the "X-Files" universe, has always left me… More
  There have been better episodes of the show (some, in my view, rank with the best television ever done), but the film generally delivers on what it promises and still works almost 15 years after its release. The conspiracy arc of the "X-Files" universe, has always left me hot or cold. This film is definitely one of the better entries in that storyline, mostly because it succeeds in visually portraying the outlandish ideas Chris Carter develops. I'm a little sad the film is the only time we see Armin Mueller-Stahl deliver ominous and vague exposition for the Syndicate, Season 6 onwards of the show would have benefited from his presence (especially since John Neville's character got killed off here).

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