"I want to believe" Poster (1993)

About

The X-Files is an American cult science fiction television series created by screenwriter Chris Carter. It first aired in September 1993 and ended in May 2002.

Centered around conspiracy theories, spirituality, efforts to uncover the existence of extraterrestrial life, The X-Files was a big hit back in the 1990s, becoming one of the most successful science fiction series of the time.

In the series, there was a poster sometimes seen hanging on the wall of Fox Mulder’s basement office; a picture of a UFO with the caption “I want to believe.”

Due to the series increasing popularity, that poster became some kind of a Holy Grail for fans and, even after the end of the show in 2002, different versions of that poster, changing 3 times in total among the seasons, were extremely researched.

On Y.T.M.N.D.

By 2005, that trend reached YTMND with:

• http://miltonfiles.ytmnd.com/ by user RTF the 27th of August 2005 and gathring about 27,000 views.

Other YTMNDs soon followed:

• http://thetruthisoutthere.ytmnd.com/
• http://iwanttobelievelol.ytmnd.com/
• http://iwanttobelieve.ytmnd.com/
• http://believeinme.ytmnd.com/
• http://wannaxenu.ytmnd.com/
• http://prpwntoblv.ytmnd.com/

Elsewhere On Internet

The initial first version of the poster, looking like a strange mix between photo and painting, became the target of parodies.
From that point, the “I want to believe” catchphrase was used for everything that needed to be “believed in”, like Santa Claus:

By 2006, a template from the poster was used as a cover for Worrywood’s 1st Mini Album.

By 2008, a Poster generator was created.

Note: “I Want to Believe” was also the title of the 2008 X-Files Movie.