The X-Files ranked 105th out of 128 shows during the 1993–94 U.S. television season. That modest overall placement came during the series' first broadcast run, before it became a major ratings hit.
The first season began on September 10, 1993, and ended on May 13, 1994, with 24 episodes airing on Fox. Its early ratings were respectable but uneven: the pilot reached 7.4 million households, while “Fallen Angel” became the season's low point at 5.1 million households.
Viewership improved as the season progressed. The finale, “The Erlenmeyer Flask,” reached 8.3 million households, the season's highest household figure. That upward trend helped establish the program as a cult hit, particularly within Fox's lineup, even though its overall network rank remained outside the top 100.
The ranking is often confused with later seasons, when The X-Files climbed substantially. The second season finished 63rd out of 141 shows, and the series continued gaining popularity. Thus, 105th describes the complete 1993–94 season, not the show's eventual peak or its pilot episode alone.