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Order doesn't really matter.
I'm asking mainly to see the decades that people would select from.

This is what immediately comes to mind.

-Blade Runner
-The Matrix
-Alien
-The Wrath of Khan
-Solaris

Rollerball (org)
Aliens
I Am Legend
Book Of Eli
Edge of Tomorrow

Ah i thought this would be if we wanted to have a dream film made....as for stuff already out-

#1 every time for me is aliens directors cut. a James Cameron classic.
in no order
.star wars the empire strikes back
.star trek is a toss up between The wrath of khan (II) and the undiscovered country (VI) both are written and directed by Nicholas Meyer
.Babylon 5-in the beginning. made for TV movie but still great.

As for a 5th one....that's really hard there are so many classics-blade runner, tron, the last star fighter, pacific rim, predator, terminator 2, the matrix, the 5th element, independence day, equilibrium and that isn't even counting animated films.

Based on the films I think I've re-watched most often, it would be:
Aliens
Return of the Jedi
Rogue One
Total Recall (Arnie version)
5th Element

Close runners up would definitely be Edge of Tomorrow and Oblivion

Top 5 is a tricky one, because as you might’ve noticed I watch a lot of movies. And I go through definite moods of what’s tickling my fancy.

But here’s some I hold in high regard.

1. Robocop. Absolute classic. Not just an excellent example of Big Dumb 80’s Action, but a multilayered masterpiece of satire.

2. The Fifth Element. I’d never seen anything quite like it at the time.

3. Dredd. It’s a shame the marketing was botched and scant, because this is an amazing bit of cinema.

4. Transformers the Movie. More than meets the eye, because it absolutely is a feature length toy advert, but there’s real heart and moral to the story. And a crazy cast.

5. Alien Ressurection. No. Really. I adore this film. So much going for it, despite some real bum notes (the hybrid is crap). And in an era noted for CGI? Predominantly practical effects is the important thing. And as I’ll always say? Amazing to see the military just “nope” on out when things go tits up. Had the crew of the Betty not been aboard, that would’ve ended the Xenomorph threat there and then.

I tried to check IMDB's lists of top movies to refresh my memory and it has been completely overrun by spambots.

Anyway my new favorites

Captain Battle: Legacy War
Rise of the Black Bat
Shark Exorcist
Dune World
The Autobots

I have far too much nostalgia to be objective. However, my favorite recent-ish science fiction movies are

Mad Max: Fury Road
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The MCU taken as one entry (otherwise, Loki?)
Upgrade
Godzilla Minus One (if it counts as Sci Fi)

Rogue One and Solo are good Star Wars films, but I don’t feel like they belong on this list.

But there are probably other good, recent Sci Fi films I haven’t seen or can’t remember.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
.1. Robocop.
2. The Fifth Element.
3. Dredd.
4. Transformers the Movie.
5. Alien (correction intentional!)

Now that's a mighty fine list.

One of the problems of sci-fi is what counts as sci-fi. Jurassic Park is sci-fi (at least it is from Crichton's writing) but would not be labeled as such by most.

A list of five from films not yet mentioned:
Jurassic Park
The Thing
Ghost in the Shell
Arrival
Children of Men

I love alien horror films- so I'll add
Pitch Black
Event Horizon
Fifth Element is just phenomenal for it's ability to create a universe from scratch and tell a fun story.
Empire Strikes Back
and Starship Troopers. So much fun!

 lord_blackfang wrote:
I tried to check IMDB's lists of top movies to refresh my memory and it has been completely overrun by spambots.

Anyway my new favorites

Captain Battle: Legacy War
Rise of the Black Bat
Shark Exorcist
Dune World
The Autobots

This only post so far that surprises me.

In no.particular order:
Dune
Pitch Black
The Fifth Element
Twelve Monkeys
Star Wars IV-VI

For TV shows (where the genre really shines IMO):
Stargate
Babylon 5
Farscape
DS9
The Outer Limits

I think there’s an important difference between the one’s I consider “best” and “my favourite” when it comes to top 5; to me the “purpose” of science fiction is to explore the relationship between science, humanity and the universe. At its best, it is almost a philosophical exercise, revealing something about the nature of humanity. But sometimes, that’s just not as fun…

Favourite:
Terminator 2
Aliens (director’s cut)
The Fifth Element
Serenity
Starship Troopers

Best:
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Contact
Arrival
Blade Runner 2049*
The Martian**

* Controversial opinion number 1; I think 2049 is better than the original. Whilst definitely not as groundbreaking, I think it’s a better exploration of what self and sentience are (particularly the nature of Joi) and it’s just better made IMHO. The pacing is better, the plot is more solid (not helped by the multiple versions of the original) and, as a consequence, the message lands better.

** Controversial opinion number 2; The Martian is probably a lot lighter and fluffier than most “serious” sci-fi, but it’s pretty hard in terms of world building and I put it up there because show me a more optimistic, inspiring, “look what science can do for us” film? Seriously, please do, because I like to hope for the future!

Okay, I'll bite. In my list, I'm only allowing one entry from any big franchise (so only one Star Trek, MCU, Star Wars, etc.). I'll also point out that these are my favorites, but not necessarily the best (if that could even be objectively determined) and are in no particular order.

Aliens (director's cut only, I want the whole movie or nothing)
Avatar (same thing, I want all the scenes)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Battle: Los Angeles
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (also director's cut please)

Perhaps a couple of real left-field picks in there. Avatar I like in spite of having a very cliche story, as the visuals are amazing and the CGI holds up well in spite of the movie being 15(!) years old now. Battle: Los Angeles I enjoy because it is shown from the perspective of the grunts on the ground, unlike a lot of other alien invasion stories where we get the big picture fairly early on. Honorable mentions might go to Pacific Rim, Silent Running, The Avengers (12 years later still my favorite MCU entry), The Fifth Element, and Planet of the Apes (the original).

Bonus round: My favorite Fantasy movies, also in no particular order:

The Lord of the Rings (entire trilogy, they are IMO one movie in three parts)
Conan the Destroyer
Red Sonja
Krull
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Bonus bonus round: Sci-fi TV shows

Stargate SG1
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Battlestar Galactica (the classic series)
Loki
The Mandalorian

I would have listed TESB, but Star Wars isn't science fiction.

Bran you went and included TV shows. once again i will not include animated shows because that list is to long between anime and western animated stuff like titan AE or starship troopers roughnecks chronicles.

#1.Babylon 5
#2.the expanse
everything else in no order
.altered carbon
.foundation
.the orville
.star trek strange new worlds

 aphyon wrote:
Bran you went and included TV shows. once again i will not include animated shows because that list is to long between anime and western animated stuff like titan AE or starship troopers roughnecks chronicles.

#1.Babylon 5
#2.the expanse
everything else in no order
.altered carbon
.foundation
.the orville
.star trek strange new worlds

Altered Carbon was almost amazing but then the incestuous sister showed up.

A few of you have specified Aliens (Director’s Cut). Why? What am I missing that makes the film better in the Director’s Cut?

I’ve seen the original version countless times and the Director’s Cut maybe twice, and all I remember being added was the Sentry Gun scene and some of the pacing feeling off.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
A few of you have specified Aliens (Director’s Cut). Why? What am I missing that makes the film better in the Director’s Cut?

I’ve seen the original version countless times and the Director’s Cut maybe twice, and all I remember being added was the Sentry Gun scene and some of the pacing feeling off.

The main reason is actually Cameron’s; he explicitly says in the introductory interview for the director’s cut that he wanted that longer, drawn out, experience, to amp up the tension. The additional down time, plus some more stuff with the aliens being smart, turn it more into survival horror than just action.

Second, and this one is YMMV, is the scene with Burke and Ripley when he tells her about her daughter. It’s not a good scene from a technical point of view (not well shot, the effects are kind of wonky, etc.), but Ripley having lost her actual daughter lends a much deeper emotional resonance to her relationship with Newt.

1 - Starship Troopers
2 - District 9
3 - Starwars - Original trilogy
4 - Avengers: Endgame
5 - Judge Dredd - both (1995 and 2012)

Favorites:
Blade Runner
Alien
Empire Strikes Back
2012 Dredd
Ex Machina

Honorable mentions: both new Dune films are proper modern sci fi, Gattaca, A Clockwork Orange, Aniara,

BR2049 is great but it's whole plot depends on the first one. It's a bit cold, clean, minimalist and digital whereas the first movie feels rugged and lived in. I actually like the difference, BR2049 stands out for it's brutalist inspiration and cinematography. But the original has this cozy rainy warmth to it and better music.

I'll list the five movies I think may have had the most influence on me. Five sci-fi movies is far too short a list for all my favorites.

1. Pitch Black
2. Aliens
3. Moontrap
4. Lifeforce
5. Total Recall

Even that isn't an easy pick. No more room for Ghost in the Shell, Predator, The Thing and the Wrath of Khan, though they totally should be on the list.

I'm probably forgetting even more, and that's without adding movies that are just fun to watch like Doom, Battle Los Angeles and a ton of 80s and 90s B-movies. Plus all the famous sci-fi movies you'll see pop up a lot.

 aphyon wrote:
Bran you went and included TV shows. once again i will not include animated shows because that list is to long between anime and western animated stuff like titan AE or starship troopers roughnecks chronicles.

#1.Babylon 5
#2.the expanse
everything else in no order
.altered carbon
.foundation
.the orville
.star trek strange new worlds

Yeah, I felt shows deserved a separate mention because I realised almost all my favourite sc-fi is shows, not movies.
I didn't like Foundation though. While passable as a generic sci-fi show, as an adaptation of Asimov and the Foundation it was utterly atrocious.

This is tough and "top" is never something I'm happy with as a ranking. So I'm going to break rules and instead of top go with most influential to me.

This is is no particular order

1) Starwars 4-6 - yes I know that's 3 films...its not cheating!

2) Ghost in the Shell - whilst this wasn't the first Anime I saw it was certainly one that really cemented my love of the genre and style. I also love its depiction of the future; with all its green computer screens; keyboards; cyberbrains and all!

3) The Black Hole - I might be the only person who developed a love of pewpew lasers; huge massive gothic style ships and robots from this film. Also the musical score with this film gets terribly overlooked - its a masterwork!

4) Star Trek the Motion Picture - I love the mix of almost fantasy and mysterious elements that this film has. It's something that I feel a lot of modern Sci-fi has wound up lacking as they tend to go for simpler war-stories and the like. Which often makes aliens feel less alien and more human (often just extreme political/emotional elements of humanity). Also who doesn't love a slow motion pan around the Enterprise in dock!

5) Alien. I could put Alien 4 here for similar reasons to Doc above; but I'm going to put the first film as without that I'd have no love of those that follow.



So yep for me these are the films that made me want to watch and engage with more sci-fi. That made me love the genre itself and seek out more films in their franchises and in the genre.


Also big honourable mentions for both
Starchaser: The Legend of Orin
Lensman film - the UK audio version (there's a USA that's distinctly different and, IMO, not as good)

Not in any particular order -

Starship Troopers
Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country
War of the Worlds
Back to the Future (all of them, no I don't care it's technically three)
Independence Day

 Overread wrote:
This is tough and "top" is never something I'm happy with as a ranking. So I'm going to break rules and instead of top go with most influential to me.

Copycat!

I had no idea there was a Lensman film. Reading it on wikipedia it is not what I expected.

Special mention for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

Like Robocop absolutely works as Just A Dumb Action Film, Bill & Ted works as a stoner comedy type movie.

But underneath it is a really brilliant tale. Not least because whilst the Time Machine helps them complete their essay? Not even Rufus is writing it for them.

Bill and Ted decided what the report would contain, and how to present it. Bill and Ted earn their grade.

How wholesome is that? What a positive, heartwarming message. The moral of the story to me is not everyone learns well in a purely academic setting. And when given an alternative route to learning? Even “dumb” kids can excel. Because they were never actually dumb, just failed by a “one size fits some” approach to education.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:

How wholesome is that? What a positive, heartwarming message. The moral of the story to me is not everyone learns well in a purely academic setting. And when given an alternative route to learning? Even “dumb” kids can excel. Because they were never actually dumb, just failed by a “one size fits some” approach to education.

I really like that takeaway.

My most watched are probably

Alien
Blade Runner
12 Monkeys
The Fifth Element
Starship Troopers

Others that I really like, but haven't seen as much

Big fan of all the Alien movies
2001 A Space Oddyssey
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Scanners
Snowpiercer
The new Dune movies

Going to have to be:

Aliens.
Bladerunner (I'm partial to the one with the voiceover, myself)
2001
Transformers: The Movie
Demolition Man.

Really surprised that I haven't seen Demolition Man mentioned, hilariously kooky when it came out 30 years ago, disturbingly prescient when seen through a modern lens.