This X-Files is getting an R-rated update on Disney+ in August ‣ Diverse Daily

More than two decades after its television debut, The X-Files franchise is now set to make a comeback on streaming with a surprise release: an R-rated cut of its second film. Originally premiering in 2008, The X-Files: I Want to Believe grossed only $68 million in theaters on a $30 million budget. It also holds a 32% rating from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, making for a lackluster installment to such an acclaimed and iconic sci-fi franchise.

However, this movie will have a second chance to succeed on streaming as an R-rated feature. In a 2025 interview with X-Files star David Duchovny, franchise creator Chris Carter revealed that he had received approval to produce a director’s cut of the film, which will feature horror elements that Fox forced him to remove to secure a PG-13 rating. Despite a sudden delay, fans of Carter’s beloved series will soon be able to stream the scary movie he intended to show.

As a fan of horror and sci-fi, this new version of The X-Files: I Want to Believe sounds like an exciting return to the franchise. Here’s what you need to know about the film:

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The R-rated cut of The X-Files: I Want To Believe gets a new name and release date

The true cut is out there

Disney+ and Hulu will stream the R-rated version of The X-Files: I Want to Believe on August 14. It will also be released under the new title, The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn. The last two words of this subtitle translate to “Victor Frankenstein,” hinting that a darker cut of the film has been stitched together. It’s unclear just what sort of content it will feature, but we’ve come to expect all sorts of bizarre and scary surprises from The X-Files.

This R-rated cut was originally scheduled to arrive on streaming in June 2026, having suddenly appeared on the list of films and TV coming to Disney+ that month. However, Carter had the release date pushed back a couple of months so he could make some last-minute adjustments to the film, according to Polygon. Though the movie’s delay was a surprise, it only added two months to the film’s long, 18-year journey to streaming. It’s unknown if the director’s cut will get a physical media release.

This isn’t the first time that The X-Files: I Want to Believe has been re-released. An Extended Cut premiered on DVD and Blu-ray in 2008, featuring roughly four minutes of new footage. However, with an R-rating and a new title, I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn promises to deliver a very different film from what fans have seen before.

It is actually quite fitting for The X-Files: I Want to Believe movie to have an R-rated cut come out now. At this time, Sinners director Ryan Coogler has been developing a reboot series starring Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel, which aims to reinvigorate the franchise for modern audiences. Releasing the director’s cut now could spark renewed interest in The X-Files and help prepare viewers for Coogler’s upcoming reboot.

Where else can I watch The X-Files?

The franchise is streaming on Hulu, Disney+, and Pluto TV

Though The X-Files: I Want to Believe’s R-rated cut is coming in August, the franchise still has so much more to offer fans on streaming in the meantime. If you want to catch up with the series before watching the movie, you can subscribe to Hulu or Disney+ to watch all 11 seasons of The X-Files. Since the film takes place after The X-Files originally ended in season 9, fans may want to watch the series to fully understand the story and better enjoy the director’s cut.

At the same time, the entirety of The X-Files is available to watch on-demand on Pluto TV. Though this allows fans to save money on streaming episodes of the series, they will still have to subscribe to Hulu or Disney+ to watch Vrach Frankenshteyn.

Whether or not the director’s cut of I Want to Believe will improve upon the theatrical cut, this R-rated movie will provide X-Files fans with new content nearly a decade after the hit series ended. Those who hoped to see more from the franchise’s divisive second film will soon have the chance to experience Carter’s original, terrifying vision of the story on streaming.