Is The X-Files scary?

Only a little. The X-Files has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.

What is The X-Files rated, and is it OK for kids?

Rated PG-13. Expect several jump scares, so it suits teens more than kids.

The X-Files (1998)

Film · 2h 1m · Rated PG-13

Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Two FBI agents uncover a shadowy government conspiracy that points to an impending alien colonization of Earth.

Suspenseful. A late-night trip at a measured pace. Emotionally it carries some weight.

Streaming on Prime Video.

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The X-Files parents guide

No surprises for a PG-13: no sex or nudity and mild language.

Rated PG-13, but by what is on screen our estimate is fine from about 10.

Scare: Mildly scary; A few tense or eerie moments.
Jump scares: Several; More than a couple of sudden jolts.
Gore: Light gore; Some blood or injury, briefly.
Violence: Some violence; Some fighting or peril.
Sex and nudity: None noted
Language: Mild; Mild words like damn, hell or crap.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is The X-Files scary?: Only a little. The X-Files has a few tense moments, nothing that follows you to bed.
How gory is The X-Files?: Light gore and some violence.
What is The X-Files rated, and is it OK for kids?: Rated PG-13. Expect several jump scares, so it suits teens more than kids.

What is The X-Files about?

Mulder and Scully, now taken off the FBI's X Files cases, must find a way to fight the shadowy elements of the government to find out the truth about a conspiracy that might mean the alien colonization of Earth.

Does it have a happy ending? (spoiler-safe)

It leaves the ending open to interpretation.