The X-Files is a television series dealing with two FBI agents,
Special Agent Fox Mulder and Special Dana Scully, in the Bureau's Violent
Crimes section. They work with the "The X-Files," cases that have
unexplainable elements and often involve the paranormal.

The X-Files is not based on true events or real FBI X-Files,
but the plots loosely based on news reports of unexplained events around the
world and other unexplained phenomena. The pilot does open with a note
saying that the events were based on an actual real-life story, but was put
there for effect.

The series idea was influenced by two TV movies, Kolchak: The Night
Stalker and it's sequel The Night Strangler and a subsequent TV
series, written by Jeff Rice. The TV series lasted for one season and was
originally broadcast in 1974-75. Other influences, according to Carter, are
a US documentary from 1976 about cop killing in Texas called The Thin Blue
Line, and the British TV series Prime Suspect.