12 Movies Like The X-Files You Need to Watch
Craving eerie investigations and sci-fi intrigue? Discover 12 great picks with mystery, crime, drama, and adventure vibes that echo The X-Files.
If you’re hunting for movies like The X-Files, you probably want the same mix of eerie cases, conspiracy tension, and sharp sci-fi ideas that keeps you guessing. This roundup pulls together 12 picks that lean into mystery, crime, adventure, drama, and futuristic speculation, so there’s plenty here whether you like paranormal investigations or broader strange-world stories. You’ll find the familiar mood of The X-Files (1993) alongside case-file favorites such as Unsolved Mysteries (1987) and Medium (2005). For bigger genre swings, Earth: Final Conflict (1997), Primeval (2007), Space Precinct (1994), The Arrival (1996), and Star Trek: Generations (1994) each deliver their own twist on unsettling secrets and high-stakes discovery.
-
01
Unsolved Mysteries
documentary · crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Combines four to five segments of dramatic re-enactments, interviews and updates of real human and paranormal mysteries. An audience interactive call-to-action request allowed viewers to call in with tips to help solve the cases.
Directed by Kabir Akhtar, John Cosgrove, Mike Mathis, Jim Lindsay, Eric TaylorCast Robert Amico, Victor Warren, Gary Sievers, Elliott Grey, Patrick AdamsonAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreevee -
02
Earth: Final Conflict
action · drama · mystery · sci-fi
When an alien species comes to Earth bearing gifts for humanity, a few suspicious humans seek to discover and resist the newcomers' true designs.
Directed by Brenton Spencer, Ross Clyde, Andrew Potter, James Head, David WinningCast Von Flores, Leni Parker, Anita La Selva, Richard Chevolleau, David HemblenAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
03
Primeval
action · adventure · drama · fantasy · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
When strange anomalies start to appear all over England, Professor Cutter and his team must track down and capture all sorts of dangerous prehistoric creatures from Earth's distant past and near future.
Directed by Cilla Ware, Jamie Payne, Mark Everest, Robert Quinn, Andrew GunnCast Andrew Lee Potts, Hannah Spearritt, Ben Miller, Juliet Aubrey, Ben MansfieldAmazon Prime VideoPeacock Premium -
04
Space Precinct
crime · drama · sci-fi
Space Precinct is a British television series that aired from 1994 to 1995 on Sky One and later on BBC Two in Britain, and in first-run syndication in the US. Many US stations scheduled the show in late night time slots, which resulted in low ratings and ensured cancellation.
The series was created by Gerry Anderson and was a mix of science fiction and police procedural that combined elements of many of Anderson's previous series such as Space: 1999, UFO and Thunderbirds, but with an added dash of Law & Order and Dragnet. Gerry Anderson was Executive Producer along with Tom Gutteridge. One of the series' directors was John Glen who had previously helmed various James Bond movies.
Directed by John Glen, Peter Duffell, Sidney Hayers, Alan Birkinshaw, Piers HaggardCast Ted Shackelford, Rob Youngblood, Simone Bendix, Nancy Paul, Jerome WillisPeacock PremiumFreevee -
05
The Arrival
mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Zane Ziminski is an astrophysicist who receives a message that seems to have extraterrestrial origins. Eerily soon after his discovery, Zane is fired. He then embarks on a search to determine the origins of the transmission that leads him into a Hitchcockian labyrinth of paranoia and intrigue.
Directed by David TwohyCast Lindsay Crouse, Charlie Sheen, Richard Schiff, Shane, Ron SilverAmazon Prime VideoFreevee -
06
Star Trek: Generations
action · adventure · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D find themselves at odds with the renegade scientist Soran who is destroying entire star systems. Only one man can help Picard stop Soran's scheme...and he's been dead for seventy-eight years.
Directed by David CarsonCast Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael DornParamount Plus -
07
Medium
crime · drama · fantasy · mystery · thriller
Allison Dubois works in the District Attorney’s office using her natural intuition about people and her ability to communicate with the dead to help to solve crimes. Her dreams often give her clues to the whereabouts of missing people.
Directed by Aaron Lipstadt, Peter Werner, Vincent Misiano, Arlene Sanford, Larry TengCast Patricia Arquette, Miguel Sandoval, Sofia Vassilieva, Jake Weber, Feodor LarkParamount Plus -
08
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
crime · drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Five mysterious stories are shown in which people meet strange or unexplainable events. The viewer is invited to decide if the stories are fact or fiction.
Directed by Al Schwartz, Skip Schoolnik, Tony Randel, Benjamin Munz, Christopher TaylorCast Jazz Egger, David Andriole, Sydney Walsh, John Rixey Moore, Robert HarveyAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreevee -
09
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
action · adventure · drama · sci-fi · thriller
At Deep Space Nine, a space station located next to a wormhole in the vicinity of the liberated planet of Bajor, Commander Sisko and crew welcome alien visitors, root out evildoers and solve all types of unexpected problems that come their way.
Directed by David Livingston, Les Landau, Winrich Kolbe, Allan Kroeker, LeVar BurtonCast Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, Colm MeaneyParamount Plus -
10
Fringe
drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
FBI Special Agent Olivia Dunham, brilliant but formerly institutionalized scientist Walter Bishop and his scheming, reluctant son Peter uncover a deadly mystery involving a series of unbelievable events and realize they may be a part of a larger, more disturbing pattern that blurs the line between science fiction and technology.
Directed by Joe Chappelle, Brad Anderson, Frederick E.O. Toye, Jeannot Szwarc, Charles BeesonCast Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, Jasika Nicole, John Noble, Lance ReddickHulu -
11
The Mentalist
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Patrick Jane, a former celebrity psychic medium, uses his razor sharp skills of observation and expertise at "reading" people to solve serious crimes with the California Bureau of Investigation.
Directed by Chris Long, Eric Laneuville, John F. Showalter, Charles Beeson, Randy ZiskCast Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman, Amanda RighettiHulu -
12
Psycho-Pass
animation · action · crime · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
In the year 2113, people are given brain scans to determine how likely they are to commit a crime. Those who fail are apprehended, or even killed.
Directed by Naoyoshi Shiotani, Katsuyuki Motohiro, Kiyotaka Suzuki, Sayo Yamamoto, Itsurô KawasakiCast Kana Hanazawa, Miyuki Sawashiro, Noriko Hidaka, Shizuka Itô, Kenji NojimaAmazon Prime Video
Wrapping Up
What ties these picks together is the sense of wonder mixed with unease: investigations that go sideways, hidden agendas, and worlds that feel just a little off. Whether you want something closer to a spooky procedural or a fuller sci-fi adventure, this list gives you several strong places to start. Bookmark it for your next watch session and come back when you want a fresh lead. The page is updated regularly, so there’s always something new to revisit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to The X-Files?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
Related Guides
Last updated: September 4, 2026