The X-Files referenced a lot of movies throughout its nine year run. This week's Top Ten Tuesday looks at some of our favourite movie moments from the show. Read after the jump to see what made our list.
10. "Wetwired" - Die Hard
If you were asked to list movies that got a mention in The X-Files, you could easily be forgiven for missing out Die Hard completely. The film got a subtle nod here in "Wetwired" when, while investigating a crime scene, Mulder and Scully hear a scream and burst into the living room only to discover two boys bunking off school to watch it on their neighbour's giant TV.
"You got a pass to come in here and eat these people's food and watch their TV?"
9. "The Post-Modern Prometheus" - Mask
The Great Mutato didn't just love Cher's music, he also loved her movies. We saw him watching Mask while enjoying a peanut butter sandwich made by his father.
"I brought you your favorite. You finish your movie but don't stay up too late, okay, son?"
8. "How The Ghosts Stole Christmas" - Scrooge
What's Christmas without a Christmas movie? Even Mulder gets in on the act watching one of the classics while slumped out on his couch, no doubt in an attempt to cheer himself up after the events of the evening: being called a "narcissistic, overzealous, self righteous, egomaniac" probably wouldn't do much to raise anyone's spirits.
"We haven't forgotten the meaning of Christmas."
7. "Chinga" - Chucky
Scully frequently has the opportunity to mock Mulder's theories, simply because many of them are so ripe for mocking. For that reason it's great to see Mulder have the rare opportunity to mock one of hers and it's clear he's enjoying every moment of it.
"I would suggest that you check the back of the doll for a - a plastic ring with a string on it."
6. "Shadows" - Poltergeist
Only six episodes into the show's run, Mulder and Scully's characters were still largely unknown, especially outside of work. Scully's friendly mocking of Mulder's theory by quoting Poltergeist was one of the earliest times we saw her fun side.
"They're here..."
5. "Miracle Man" - The Exorcist
Another early look into Scully's personality and the kind of person she is outside work. In this scene Scully informs Mulder that she was raised Catholic(it's the first time this was brought up) as well as letting him know one of her favourite movies.
"You must have really liked 'The Exorcist'?"
"One of my favorite movies."
4. "Small Potatoes" - Star Wars
When Mulder drags Scully across the country to interview Amana Nelligan he's hoping to catch a case that will give him definitive, biological proof of the existence of extraterrestrials. Instead he lands a story that is far outside what even he considers plausible. The way his expression and body language shift when Amanda tells him the name of her baby's father is one of the funniest things the show ever did.
"No, no, I didn't say he was an alien, I said he was from another planet. His name is Luke Skywalker. He's what's known as a Jedi Knight."
3. "Triangle" - The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz was referenced heavily in "Rain King", both at the school reunion where we heard "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" playing and in the closing scene where the oversaturated colours of Kansas farmland is an obvious nod. It also made an appearance in Fight the Future when Mulder awakens in the hospital to the Lone Gunmen and calls them "Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Toto". However this moment in "Triangle" between a bed-ridden Mulder, an exasperated Scully, and their amused gaggle of friends is my favourite scene from the episode.
"Mulder, I want you to close your eyes and I want you to think to yourself 'there's no place like home.'"
2. "Je Souhaite" - Caddyshack and Steel Magnolias
This scene is the buy-one-get-one-free moment of X-Files movie references with both Caddyshack and Steel Magnolias getting a moment of stardom. Scully's half-hearted whining at Mulder's movie choice gives us a rare glimpse at the pair of them in a happy, carefree moment.
"It's a classic American movie."
"That's what every guy says. It's a guy movie."
1. "Hollywood A.D." - Plan 9 From Outer Space
Our number one choice in a list all about movie moments just has to come from an episode that is all about the movies. Mulder quotes dialogue along with the film, Scully recognises it the second she spots it on screen, and there's even a bonus Douglas Adams reference thrown in for good measure. It's one of my all-time favourite moments between these two.
"You've seen this movie 42 times?"
"Yes."
"Doesn't that make you sad? It makes me sad."
BONUS! "Hollywood A.D." - The Lazarus Bowl
OK so it couldn't make the list proper, it doesn't really exist after all, but no list of movies mentioned in The X-Files would be complete without the movie about the X-Files themselves! Presumably Scully got her wish and the movie tanked because no one ever mentioned it again or recognised their names in later seasons. I do regret that we never got to see the Lone Gunmen watching it though...
"I love you, Scully. No ifs, ands or..."
"Bees."