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The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Play trailer Poster for The X-Files: I Want to Believe PG-13 2008 1h 44m Sci-Fi Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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32% Tomatometer 167 Reviews 32% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Though FBI special agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and his partner Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) once chased things that go bump in the night, his tireless search for the truth out there has led to his professional exile. However, a missing-persons case leads to the agents' reunion, along with an encounter with a priest (Billy Connolly) who may or may not be experiencing psychic visions.
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The X-Files: I Want to Believe

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

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Critics Consensus

The chemistry between leads David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson do live up to The X-Files' televised legacy, but the roving plot and droning routines make it hard to identify just what we're meant to believe in.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/23/2018
The film's ambition may well be to "stand alone" but, alas, it doesn't even stand up. Go to Full Review
J. R. Jones Chicago Reader 12/09/2008
Only a fan would be inclined to tolerate this dunderheaded mystery. Go to Full Review
Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 08/01/2008
3/5
The best thrillers dig deeper than this one does, as did the best of The X Files on TV before the series ran out of steam. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 07/14/2024
2/4
I want to believe there are still quality X-Files stories to tell, even if this one wasn’t. I want to believe this, but like the protagonists in the movie, my beliefs are conflicted with doubt and reservation. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 05/28/2022
3/5
…the story may be missing some beats, but there’s still an interesting chemistry between the leads, and the conflict between science and religion is an edgy seam to mine… Go to Full Review
Niall Browne Movies in Focus 03/17/2021
3/5
One of the major criticisms levelled at The X-Files: I Want To Believe is that it is like an episode of the television series - and a mediocre episode at that. I have to say that this is true. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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David S. Nov 13 One of my lowest rated films reviews and for good reason, this long and boring film, is just not good. Bad plotting, a lack of continuity, and the usually great chemistry between Mulder and Scully is very forced here and it's boring!!! Okay, if you like the show, but for none fans, I don't recommend this one!!! See more Jeanne F Sep 14 I actually liked it. I had no problem following it. It wasn’t as bad as the critics say. See more Joy D May 28 After the disastrous addition of seasons 10 and 11, the film hits differently than it did on its original release. It serves as a solid ending after season 9, in part because it does feel like watching an elongated regular episode of the show. That's not a good thing for a theatrical release, but in 2025 it serves as good entertainment. As a bonus, if you've been an X-Files fan, it will give you a lot more satisfaction than watching those last two added seasons. See more Kevin P Feb 12 Disasterous second movie that should never have been made. Too short, it's just a filler episode and a bad one at that. Killed the franchise that could only limp on another season. See more Alex r 10/31/2024 If you enjoy X files this movie will be up your alley. If your watching this for some reason other than being a fan of the series its not worth watching. It will not make you interested in the show. This movie reminds me of those movies where the movie before they had figured out their team dynamic. But they need conflict so they pretend this team doesn't work well together and for 1/3 to 1/2 of the movie they try to regain their mojo. This movie feels like a sad excuse to put our two leads back together for a movie. The plot is not memorable, but the chemistry between the characters is still top notch. The locations are great. It feels like an episode of X files but not one you remember. There is nothing terrible about the movie just ends up being average. See more Alex K 09/16/2024 If you're expecting any resolutions at all to almost anything that happened in the show you'll get none. It's basically an extended episode of the show with a crap x-file, one of the case adjacent ones. The case was pretty sci-fi-y too I suppose but the x-files qualities of the case aren't discussed. I have a lot of other issues with the film that I'm not gunna explore. Fun fact for those that expanded: They used a spitting image puppet of Zach Braff as stand in for David when he was too busy to shoot See more Read all reviews
The X-Files: I Want to Believe

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Movie Info

Synopsis Though FBI special agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and his partner Dr. Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) once chased things that go bump in the night, his tireless search for the truth out there has led to his professional exile. However, a missing-persons case leads to the agents' reunion, along with an encounter with a priest (Billy Connolly) who may or may not be experiencing psychic visions.
Director
Chris Carter
Producer
Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz
Screenwriter
Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox, Ten Thirteen Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Violent and Disturbing Content|Thematic Material)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama, Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 25, 2008, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 18, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$21.0M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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