Merchandise related to the American television The X-Files franchise includes VHS and DVD sets, compact discs, video games, T-shirts and a magazine devoted specifically to the show.
Music
Some of composer Mark Snow's music from the first three seasons of The X-Files was released on the album The Truth and the Light - Music from the X-Files, which also included dialogue from the show.
Snow's main X-Files theme was released with other songs used in and inspired by the show (by such artists as Soul Coughing, Nick Cave, Screamin' Jay Hawkins and PM Dawn among others) on 1996 soundtrack Songs in the Key of X. For the release of the theme as a single a music video was created with clips from the show (this video was not included as bonus features on any DVD/VHS sets). The theme song was remixed by The Dust Brothers on the movie soundtrack The X-Files: The Album, which also included songs by the Foo Fighters, X, Björk, Filter, Sting & Aswad, and others.
Snow also released the score of The X-Files movie.
In May 2011 the first of two volumes of Mark Snow's score for the series was released in a four-disc box set by La La Land Records. The set came complete with detailed descriptions of each cue. The set was limited to 3000 units and has since sold out. Although it is only the first installment of two volumes, this release includes tracks all the way through to the very end final scene of the series. The second volume was released September 10, 2013 to coincide with the 20th Anniversary of the Series Premiere.
Volume One was re-released in February, 2016 to coincide with the new mini-series on Fox.
DVD releases
Complete season sets The entire series is currently available on DVD by season.
Season Episodes Originally aired DVD release dateRegion 1 Region 2 Region 41 24 1993–1994 May 9, 2000 November 6, 2000 November 22, 20002 25 1994–1995 November 28, 2000 April 30, 2001 April 20, 20013 24 1995–1996 May 8, 2001 November 26, 2001 November 12, 20014 24 1996–1997 November 13, 2001 April 22, 2002 April 24, 20025 20 1997–1998 May 14, 2002 October 14, 2002 November 11, 2002 6 22 1998–1999 November 5, 2002 March 17, 2003 May 13, 2003 7 22 1999–2000 May 13, 2003 September 22, 2003 October 20, 20038 21 2000–2001 November 4, 2003 March 14, 2004 April 14, 20049 20 2001–2002 May 11, 2004 June 7, 2004 July 27, 2004
Slimmer versions
The entire series was re-released on DVD in a "slimmer" package, sans some bonus materials that were featured in the original fold out versions. Seasons 6, 7 and 8 contain all of the bonus material found in the original versions. All other seasons in the U.S. region 1 DVDs are missing the additional special features. In the U.S. Seasons 1, 2 & 3 were released on January 31, 2006, Seasons 4, 5 & 6 were released March 28, 2006, and Seasons 7, 8 & 9 were released on June 6, 2006. In 2008, each season were released as one single DVD case each containing 6 discs except Season 5 and Season 9 which contain 5 discs.
European editions of the slim sets include all the features of the original packages. Seasons 1, 2 & 3 were released on October 11, 2004, Seasons 4, 5 & 6 were released on December 27, 2004, and Seasons 7, 8 & 9 were released on March 14, 2005.
In Australia during the original release of the series (each season was a fold out box set), the series was re-repacked into Collector Edition Boxsets (as were the original fold out sets) which contained the same bonus material as the original release between 2001 and 2004 alongside the original sets, however the discs were housed in plastic cases, Season 1-4 contained 4 cases, Seasons 5-9 contained 3 cases. On 18 May 2005, came the second repackage sets where each season was split into two parts (part 1 and part 2) which each part contained 3 discs, except for season two where Part 2 contained 4 discs, this marked the first time that not all bonus materials were available, Seasons 2, 5-8 contained all bonus material. On 5 September 2007, the series was re-packed into slimline sets. Early 2016, all 9 seasons were released in slimline cases with new artwork (same as the blu-ray releases).
Mythology sets
These DVD sets contain the episodes related to the conspiracy mythology, and avoids the stand-alone episodes. There are four volumes detailing different storylines. Volume 1 – Abduction Volume 2 – Black Oil Volume 3 – Colonization Volume 4 – Super Soldiers
Standalone episodes These DVD sets, which were only released in Region 2, contain selected two-part episodes edited together into feature length movies. Special features include behind-the-scenes videos and character featurettes. Collectible cards were also included with the first four sets.
Deadalive ("This Is Not Happening" and "Deadalive") Existence ("Essence" and "Existence") Nothing Important Happened Today ("Nothing Important Happened Today") Providence ("Provenance" and "Providence") The Truth ("The Truth", with "William" included as an extra bonus episode)
"Revelations" collection Intended to act as an entry point for viewers new to the series, an two-disc collection titled The X-Files: Revelations (also known as Essentials in some markets) was released in 2008. The set contains the following episodes:
"Pilot" (from season 1) "Beyond the Sea" (from season 1) "The Host" (from season 2) "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" (from season 3) "Memento Mori" (from season 4) "The Post-Modern Prometheus" (from season 5) "Bad Blood" (from season 5) "Milagro" (from season 6)
Each episode is accompanied by an introduction by series creator Chris Carter and executive producer Frank Spotnitz. The collection also includes two additional extras; a WonderCon panel featuring the series cast and crew, and a trailer for The X-Files: I Want to Believe.
Complete series box set
Fox released The X-Files: The Ultimate Collection DVD set in region 1 on November 6, 2007, which includes all 9 seasons and the first movie. The bonus features are the same as the previous sets; with the addition of the bonus features produced for the mythology box sets and special DVD-Rom games. It also includes a season one comic book and a theatrical poster of the first movie and totals 61 discs. On December 8, 2015, the first collection on Blu-ray was released titled The X-Files: The Collector's Set, this set includes all bonus materials from original DVD sets and mythology sets but does not include the movies. A reissue Blu-ray collection will be released June 24, 2016, which will include The Event Series.
A Region 2 version, called The X-Files: The Complete DVD Collection Season 1–9 (59-Disc Set), was released October 30, 2006. This set contains only the series and excludes the movie. Each season are the slim sets. A new collection The X-Files: The Complete Collector's Edition (61-Disc Set), was released on November 19, 2007, and contained the series (1–9), series guide, the movie and the bonus features disk. A third collection The X-Files: The Complete Series - Seasons 1–9 + Movies (55-Disc Set) was released October 1, 2012. This set includes both 'Fight the Future' and 'I Want to Believe' films. It does however miss out on some bonus features in previous sets. On December 7, 2015, a Blu-ray boxset titled The X-Files: The Collector's Set was released. Containing all bonus materials from the original sets and mythology sets, though this set does not include the movies.
In Australia, the complete series set was released on November 25, 2008. This set contains 61 DVDs. This includes all 9 seasons and the first and second movies. Over 28 hours of special features. Packaged as a slide out book, the set is called The X Files: Uncover the Truth Collection. On December 1, 2010, a new complete series set was released titled The X-Files: The Whole Story, which contained all 9 seasons in the slimline cases (2007 releases), Fight the Future movie and I Want to Believe movie, housed on a collector tin. On November 22, 2013, another set was released, titled The X-Files: The Complete Series, which is a 55-Disc set and contains all nine seasons, which are the same sets as the 2007 releases and also the two feature films were included. On December 9, 2015, the first Blu-ray set was released titled The X-Files: The Collector's Set (57-disc set), which contains all 9 seasons with all bonus material that were featured in the original individual season releases and the two feature films. Released on May 25, 2016, is The X-Files: The Complete Series Blu-ray that includes The Event Series. A DVD box set was also released to include The Event Series on the same date; the box is similar to the previous DVD set.
VHS releases Before the DVD full season releases, The X-Files had its episodes released in VHS season sets in parts of the world, as well as selected single episodes put together. There was other material released on VHS, such as The X Files - Forensic Evidence Box and the X Files Trivia Game.
"Wave" sets The original VHS release of The X-Files in North America consisted of selected episodes from each of the first four seasons, which were released on a staggered basis beginning in 1996.
Each "wave" was three VHS tapes, each containing two episodes, for a total of six episodes per wave and two waves per season (for example, the home video release of Wave 1 drew from the first half of the first season: "Pilot"/"Deep Throat", "Conduit"/"Ice" and "Fallen Angel"/"Eve"). Each wave was also available in a boxed set. Ultimately 12 episodes (approximately half the total number aired) were selected by Chris Carter to represent each season, including nearly all "mythology arc" episodes and selected standalone episodes. Carter would briefly introduce each episode on the tape with an explanation of why it was chosen and anecdotes from the set. These same clips were later included on The X-Files full season DVDs. Wave 8 covering the last part of the fourth season was the last to be released. VHS "wave" tapes were not released for the fifth and later seasons, so there are no Carter "interviews" for selected episodes included on those DVDs.
The last wave (wave 8 of the VHS series) did not have collectible cards (one per video tape) as had been included in each of the previous seven waves/releases.
In the UK, in May 1995, two tapes were released. Each contained two episodes of the first season. It was intended to release all 24 episodes, two per tape, two tapes per month. The high UK television ratings prompted Fox Home Video to cease these releases after June 1995. Eventually, all nine seasons were released on VHS in limited edition box sets.
The first VHS releases in Australia and the second releases in the UK were released in the format of File 1, File 2, etc., up until File 12, which was the final episode of Season 5. They were released from 1995 through until 1998. These are as follows:
File 1 - The Unanswered File ("The Unopened File" in the UK) (episodes "Anasazi", "The Blessing Way" and "Paper Clip) (1995) File 2 - Tooms (episodes "Squeeze" and "Tooms") (1996) File 3 - Abduction (episodes "Duane Barry", "Ascension" and "One Breath") (1996) File 4 - Colony (episodes "Colony" and "End Game) (1996) Secrets of The X-Files (1996) The X-Files Collector's Cube (1996) (released as "Forensic Evidence Box") (contains File 1, File 2, File 3, File 4 and Secrets of The X-Files) File 5 - Master Plan (File 6 in the UK) (episodes "Talitha Cumi" and "Herrenvolk) (1996) File 6 - Tunguska (File 7 in the UK) (episodes "Tunguska" and "Terma") (1996) File 7 - 82517 (File 5 in the UK) (episodes "Nisei" and "731") (1996) File 8 - Tempus Fugit (episodes "Tempus Fugit" and "Max") (1997) File 9 - Redux (episodes "Gethsemane", "Redux" and "Redux II") (1997) File 10 - Emily (episodes "Christmas Carol" and "Emily") (1997) File 11 - Patient X (episodes "Patient X" and "The Red And The Black") (1998) Files 12 - The End (1998)
Other VHS titles released from 1999 to 2002 include:
Piper Maru