'X-Files' Debut Abducts More than 20 Million Viewers

THE X-FILES: L-R: Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOX

The truth is out there, and so are tens of millions of viewers.

Fox’s “X-Files” premiere was watched by 20.3 million people, when counting three-day delayed viewing. That grows even higher — to 21.4 million viewers — when including Hulu and the Fox Now app.

In the key 18-49 demographic, Sunday’s premiere rose 28 percent to an eventual 7.8 rating/24 share.

Also Read: 'X-Files' Return By the Numbers: Fox Reboot Ratings Reach Rarefied Atmosphere

The “X-Files” landed 13.5 million total viewers on the actual evening of its premiere, when it scored a 5.1 rating. The linear jump from 13.5 million viewers to 20.3 million reflects growth of 50 percent.

The Dana Walden and Gary Newman-run broadcast network has publicly sworn off Nielsen’s Live + Same Day ratings. Aside from event programming, Fox only reports Live + 3 Day rating numbers.

16 Stars You Forgot Were on 'The X-Files' (Photos)

Felicity Huffman, "Ice"

All the way back in the first season of "The X-Files," a pre-"Sports Night" Felicity Huffman was infected by an alien parasite.
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Dean Norris, "F. Emasculata"

One of many future "Breaking Bad" stars to have first worked with Vince Gilligan on "The X-Files," Norris appeared in a Season 2 episode as a federal marshal trying to stop the spread of a nasty disease.

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Jack Black, "D.P.O."

In Season 3, Black guest starred with Giovanni Ribisi as a teenager whose friend has the power to control lightning.
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Ryan Reynolds, "Syzygy"

Long before "Deadpool," Reynolds played Jay "Boom" DeBoom, a jock murdered by a pair of psychic teen girls, on the third season of "The X-Files."
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Lucy Liu, "Hell Money"

"Elementary" star Lucy Liu briefly appeared in a Season 3 episode about a Chinese black market for human organs.
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Jodie Foster, "Never Again"

Though she didn't appear on screen, Foster provided the voice of a tattoo named Betty in a Season 4 episode.
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Lili Taylor, "Mind's Eye"

In Season 5, Lili Taylor had a guest appearance as a blind woman who "sees" a violent crime and ends up accused of it herself.
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Bryan Cranston, "Drive"

Famously linking Cranston to "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan, the Season 6 episode "Drive" starred the future Walter White as a horrible racist.
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Ed Asner and Lily Tomlin, "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas"

In a Season 6 bottle episode, Asner and Tomlin played a pair of ghosts who haunt a mansion and turn couples against each other.
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Shia LaBeouf, "The Goldberg Variation"

Shia LaBeouf appeared in a Season 7 episode as a bed-ridden boy suffering from severe liver problems.
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Kathy Griffin, "Fight Club"

In Season 7, comedian Kathy Griffin played a pair of sisters who cause terrible things to happen when they're around each other.
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Joe Morton, "Redrum"

Season 8 saw future "Scandal" star Joe Morton make a guest appearance as a man traveling backward in time.
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Aaron Paul and Jane Lynch, "Lord of the Flies"

A Season 9 episode of about a family with fly-like abilities featured Jane Lynch and a young Aaron Paul.
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Michael Emerson, "Sunshine Days"

"Lost" star Michael Emerson appeared in the penultimate episode of Season 9 as a man obsessed with "The Brady Bunch."
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