The episode was generally well received by fans and critics alike. "Variety" magazine criticized the episode for "using reworked concepts", but praised the production and noted its potential. Of the acting, "Variety" stated, "Duchovny's delineation of a serious scientist with a sense of humor should win him partisans, and Anderson's wavering doubter connects well. They're a solid team...". "Variety" also praised the writing and direction: "Mandel's cool direction of Carter's ingenious script and the artful presentation itself give TV sci-fi a boost." The magazine concluded, "Carter's dialogue is fresh without being self-conscious, and the characters are involving. Series kicks off with drive and imagination, both innovative in recent TV." "Entertainment Weekly" noted that Scully "was set up as a scoffing skeptic" in the pilot but progressed toward belief throughout the season. After the airing of just four episodes, the magazine called "The X-Files" "the most paranoid, subversive show on TV", noting the "marvelous tension between Anderson—who is dubious about these events—and Duchovny, who has the haunted, imploring look of a true believer". Keith Phipps, writing for "The A.V. Club", praised the episode, rating it an A–. He felt that the episode's premise worked well to "set a template" for future episodes, and noted that the chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson was "already there" from the outset. Matt Haigh, writing for Den of Geek, reviewed the episode positively, praising the chemistry between the lead roles and the quality of the script. In 2012, "SFX" named it the tenth best TV pilot in the science fiction and fantasy genre, saying that it "brought us everything we came to expect from the show". The plot for "Pilot" was also adapted as a novel for young adults in 1995 by Les Martin, under the title "X Marks the Spot".