In what year did the series premiere on Fox?

In what year did The X-Files premiere on Fox? The answer is 1993.

The series debuted with its pilot episode on September 10, 1993, on the Fox network. Created by Chris Carter, it followed FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigated unexplained cases involving paranormal events, government conspiracies, and possible extraterrestrial activity.

The first season contained 24 episodes and established the show's central contrast: Mulder approached the cases as a believer, while Scully used her medical and scientific training to seek rational explanations. The original run eventually lasted nine seasons and 202 episodes, ending in 2002, before revival seasons aired in 2016 and 2018.

A common mix-up is confusing the premiere year with the year the first season ended. Season one concluded in 1994, but the series itself began in 1993. The pilot also performed strongly enough to help Fox develop one of its most recognizable long-running dramas.