Pluto TV is taking its love of classic sci-fi to a whole new level. To celebrate all 11 seasons of The X-Files now streaming free on the platform, the service is launching a unique contest that will send one lucky fan and a guest into the California desert for a marathon viewing experience unlike anything TV has done before.
Called “The Fan Is Out There,” the promotion invites die-hard X-Files fans to enter for the chance to spend nine days watching the entire series inside an off-grid facility in Joshua Tree. The winner and their chosen “investigation partner” will attempt to watch every episode of the iconic paranormal drama while immersed in a themed environment designed for true believers.
A Desert Binge-Watch Built for X-Philes
The location for the experience remains undisclosed, but organizers say the facility will sit somewhere in the Joshua Tree desert — an area long associated with unexplained phenomena and UFO sightings. The setting is meant to mirror the conspiracy-laden tone that made the series famous.
The installation will include a living case board where participants can track clues and connections across the show’s mythology, themed provisions like black coffee and sunflower seeds, and daily on-camera confessionals documenting the marathon.
According to Pluto TV’s Senior Vice President of Content Partnerships and Programming, Will Gurman, the event highlights how the show’s themes still resonate today.
“At a moment when conspiracy culture has moved from fringe forums to mainstream discourse, The X-Files lands differently today,” Gurman said. “With the entire series always available and totally free, it’s a show you can disappear into for days. This is exactly the kind of deep library comfort viewing Pluto TV was built for.”
How to Enter the Pluto TV Contest
Fans can enter “The Fan Is Out There” beginning March 10 at 11 a.m. ET. Entries remain open through March 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
The contest winner will receive the opportunity to participate in the immersive marathon viewing event alongside a guest. Full rules and entry details are available on the official contest website.
Where to Watch The X-Files for Free
Pluto TV currently streams all 11 seasons of The X-Files (including the 2016 revival) both on demand and on a dedicated 24/7 channel within the platform’s Sci-Fi category.
Cord cutters can watch the entire 218-episode series free without a subscription, making it easy to jump into the show whether you’re revisiting the mythology or discovering Mulder and Scully for the first time.
Pluto TV will also host a special marathon tied to the promotion starting April 20.