(https://i.imgur.com/3Hueg8H.png)
Studio: SRS Cinema
Release Date: 4/7/2026
Rating: NR
Film Grade: C+
The Story: Hot off the continuing success of The X-Files, Chris Carter came up with the idea for a new series that would explore the trepidations, fears, and concerns building around our world reaching the year 2000. This documentary explores the origins of Millennium, the stories behind the stories, and what went into making the show.
My Take: My wife and I were loyal viewers from its premiere in October 1996. While set in the same fictional universe as The X-Files, Millennium had a much darker, grittier vibe. Veteran actor Lance Henriksen starred as professional profiler Frank Black, who had a special gift for getting into the heads of the vilest perpetrators. Along the way, concepts familiar to The X-File’s audience would weave in and out with conspiracy theories, supernatural elements, and an elite, secret organization. I remember being so into the show that even though we were taping the second season finale, we rushed back to our hotel while on vacation to watch it live. And what an episode it was, with one of the most daring, surprising, and impactful episodes ever shown. Each week’s entry felt like a thrilling mini-movie. Other series have followed in those footsteps, but none are as original.
That brings us to this disc. Shot by fans over a number of years, the creators have brought together writers, cast, and crew to discuss how the show came to be, the weekly challenges, and how the actors related to the series and their part in it. Those interviewed include Carter, Henriksen, Megan Gallagher, Frank Spotnitz, and many others. Shockingly absent is Terry O’Quinn, who was almost as important to the show as Henriksen. This version expands on the original documentary’s release by adding additional footage including a new interview with actor Bill Smitrovich.
The documentary is split into different sections, each with a specific theme, such as The Original Concept, New Blood, and Back to Frank Black. Oddly, these are not keyed to chapter marks. Instead, hitting the forward and backwards buttons simply transports you in five-minute chunks. Each segment consists of multiple intercut interviews along with occasional clips from the show or other references. Often these are insightful, while a few are more egocentric. What does come through is that each still have a strong affinity for the show and were happy to have been a part of it. There’s also a good number of complementary comments between all of those involved, which is always good to see.
Visuals: Video quality varies, with some shots looking clear and natural and others lacking in definition and sharpness. For example, there’s the interview with Smitrovich, where the two different cameras used have very different qualities, with one looking like an animated sculpture; even the color temperatures look jarringly dissimilar. Shots from the actual series are soft, most likely reflecting their SD sources. There’s a spot at the two hour and two-minute mark where Spotnitz’s lips aren’t even close to matching his words. This is not reference-grade work. But it is a documentary made by fans, and the image is clear enough to get across the messages and meanings of the interviews.
Audio: The disc’s stereo soundtrack features clear dialog and an original musical score. Sometimes the music fits the interviews, but on rare occasion it almost becomes distracting. Overall, I didn’t think it was necessary to play anything over the interviews, as their voices and stories were captivating enough.
Special Features: We get some interesting additional features here, including a trip to the real-life house that was used as Frank’s refuge from the world’s evil. There’s also a trivia game for the show’s fans, and a short interview with Henriksen, Gallagher, and brilliant composer, Mark Snow.
- NEW 2 hr 22 min CUT!
- Home Again: Return to the Yellow House
- Millennium CD Release Signing Event
- Matthew Ingle’s Artwork Gallery
- End Game: The Return of Avatar
- Behind the Scenes Interviews
- Opening Credits Contest Submissions
- Promos and Trailers
- SRS Cinema and Resurrection Films Trailers
Final Verdict: Put Millennium on the list of TV shows that were canceled before their time. One of the goals for creating the documentary was to develop interest from other fans and the studio to get a movie or mini-series (a la the two X-Files limited series) so that the show could finally have a satisfactory conclusion. While there was a Frank Black episode of The X-Files, it wasn’t regarded as a suitable resolution to where Millennium ended. There have been talks about bringing Henriksen back for one last hurrah, but he turns 86 years old in 2026, making that seem less and less likely.
The disc serves up lots of memories and recollections of what made the show special. Oddly, the series isn’t streaming and has only been released on DVD, despite being shot on film. While Y2K and the turn of the century were unremarkable, the underlying themes of the series – the nature of evil, power, control, manipulation, may be even more relevant now, more than 25 years later. In an age where targeted videos can be instantly created to reflect any version of reality, the show could easily be revived as a gripping tale for today’s age.
For now, fans will have to be satisfied with this reminiscence of a fantastic production that begs to be rediscovered. The disc is a testament to how much the show inspired and meant to those fans, and well worth watching for anyone looking for insight, additional knowledge, or the chance to hang out with what feel like old friends.
Fun Trivia from the Extras: Terry O’Quinn appeared in two TV episodes both titled “Walkabout”, one on Millennium and the other on Lost.
https://youtu.be/dhk9TS5vBts
This review was written by a human without the use of AI.
My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
Oppo BDP-93
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
Xbox One X
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup