Claim: Chris Carter wrote, produced, and directed The X-Files.

The X-Files -LRB- also known as The X-Files : Fight the Future -RRB- is a 1998 American science fiction thriller film directed by Rob Bowman . Chris Carter wrote the screenplay . The story is by Carter and Frank Spotnitz . It is the first feature film based on Carter 's television series The X-Files , which revolves around fictional unsolved cases called the X-Files and the characters solving them . Five main characters from the television series appear in the film : David Duchovny , Gillian Anderson , Mitch Pileggi , John Neville , and William B. Davis reprise their respective roles as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully , FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner , Well-Manicured Man , and the Cigarette-Smoking Man . The film was promoted with the tagline Fight the Future .   The film takes place between seasons five -LRB- episode `` The End '' -RRB- and six -LRB- episode `` The Beginning '' -RRB- of the television series , and is based upon the series ' extraterrestrial mythology . The story follows agents Mulder and Scully , removed from their usual jobs on the X-Files , and investigating the bombing of a building and the destruction of criminal evidence . They uncover what appears to be a government conspiracy attempting to hide the truth about an alien colonization of Earth .   Carter decided to make a feature film to explore the show 's mythology on a wider scale , as well as appealing to non-fans . He wrote the story with Frank Spotnitz at the end of 1996 and , with a budget from 20th Century Fox , filming began in 1997 , following the end of the show 's fourth season . Carter assembled cast and crew from the show , as well as some other , well-known actors such as Blythe Danner and Martin Landau , to begin production on what they termed `` Project Blackwood '' . The film was produced by Carter and Daniel Sackheim . Mark Snow continued his role as X-Files composer to create the film 's score .   The film premiered on June 19 , 1998 , in the United States , and received mixed to positive reviews from critics . Although some enjoyed the style and effects of the film , others found the plot confusing and viewed it as little more than an extended episode of the series . A sequel , entitled I Want to Believe , was released ten years later .