 " Little Green Men " is the first episode of the second season of the science fiction television series The X @-@ Files . It premiered on the Fox network on September 16 , 1994 in the United States . It was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on August 28 , 1995 . The episode was written by Glen Morgan and James Wong , and directed by David Nutter . The episode helped explore the series ' overarching mythology . " Little Green Men " earned a Nielsen household rating of 10 @.@ 3 , being watched by 9 @.@ 8 million households in its initial broadcast . The episode received largely positive reviews from critics . 
