Movie Fanatic's Top 100 Films of All Time: 50-41

With the arrival of 2013, we bring kick off the second half of our Top 100 Films of All Time list! This week features some amazing movies from the so-called "Hollywood Renaissance" of the late 60s and 70s, as well as a few more recent films!

Before you look at #50-41 below, catch up on what's made our list so far with #100-91, #90-81, #80-71, #70-61, and #60-51. Let us know what you think of the list in the comments section below, then check back with us next week, when we resume releasing the lists on Monday, for our next ten.

50. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial
Some argue that E.T. is Steven Spielberg’s best movie. But, what cannot be debated is that the 1982 blockbuster -- that was the highest-grossing film of all-time for many years -- was the film that firmly placed the director on the all-time list of helmers. The story of the titular lost alien and the little boy who befriends him is endearing, exciting and all Spielberg. The faceless suburban setting, the use of child actors working to their full talents and a sweeping score by frequent Spielberg collaborator John Williams all adds up to one serious classic. Check out some E.T. quotes for more.

49. Fargo
While not necessarily their funniest, Fargo is arguably the Coen brothers’ best film, all-around. The duo are famous for making films about hapless characters who unwittingly get caught up in sticky situations, and Fargo represents the absolute height of this idea. Absolutely brilliant performances from the entire cast, which includes Frances McDormand (who won an Oscar), William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, and Peter Stormare, helped to ensure Fargo’s place in the top half of our Top 100. Check out our Fargo quotes page for more.

48. The Sound of Music
The 1965 stunner is played every year around the holidays and still racks up the ratings, decades after its release. The story of Julie Andrews’ nanny and the real-life Von Trapp family singers enthralled audiences as much when it debuted on the Broadway stage as it did in theaters with its premiere. The songbook is iconic. The visuals (The Hills are Alive!) are stunning. And Christopher Plummer and Andrews create such romantic chemistry that it is also considered one of the premier romances in film history. Read through some The Sound of Music quotes!

47. The Silence of the Lambs
The third film ever to sweep the top five categories at the Academy Awards, The Silence of the Lambs is a cultural keystone in the history of film, featuring Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter, one of the most iconic on-screen characters ever. Jodie Foster, Ted Levine, and Scott Glenn also star in this terrifying look into the serial killer psyche from director Jonathan Demme. Take a look at our The Silence of the Lambs quotes page for more.

46. The Wizard of Oz
How resonant is The Wizard of Oz? The fact that it debuted in 1939 and audiences are still so interested in that world that one of the most buzzed about films of 2013 is Oz: The Great and Powerful speaks volumes as to the place The Wizard of Oz has in film annals. The flick made Judy Garland a star and spawned an army of pop culture references that are still used today including that yellow brick road, Over the Rainbow and the iconic line, “There’s no place like home” and many other The Wizard of Oz quotes.

45. A Streetcar Named Desire
Combine a script adapted from one of the best American playwrights in history and a stunning performance from one of the best American actors in history, and you’ve got A Streetcar Named Desire. Marlon Brando stars as the brutish Stanley Kowalski in the film version of Tennessee Williams’ famous play (which Williams himself co-adapt), with Vivien Leigh turning in an unforgettable performance as Blanche DuBois. A Streetcar Named Desire quotes comprise some of the most memorable in film history (“Stella!!” anyone?).

44. Raging Bull
By the time Raging Bull arrived on screens in 1980, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro had a stellar track record. After Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, the dynamic duo of 1970’s film continued their cinematic chemistry into the next decade with Raging Bull. The true story of Jake LaMotta made headlines when method actor De Niro gained 50 pounds to portray the prize fighter at his best, and at his worst. Check out some Raging Bull quotes for more.

43. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Marking the second appearance of Paul Newman/Robert Redford on our list (they starred together in our #84 film, The Sting) is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The 1969 Western film tells the somewhat-true story of the two famous bandits as they flee to Bolivia to evade the law. Absolutely beautiful cinematography from Conrad Hall, and a wonderful soundtrack from Burt Bacharach help to make Butch Cassidy one of the best Westerns ever. Read through some Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid quotes for more.

42. A Clockwork Orange
Based on the 1962 novella of the same name by Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange simultaneously repulsed and compelled moviegoers when it premiered in 1971. There could have been no better director to helm the page-to-screen effort than the legendary Stanley Kubrick. Malcolm McDowell scored the role of his career as a ruffian whom the state takes extraordinary measures to set straight. It’s both horrifying and haunting. Take a look at our A Clockwork Orange quotes page for more.

41. The French Connection
One of the exemplary films from the “Hollywood Renaissance,” The French Connection features one of the most well-known car chases in history. Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider star as two New York cops who uncover a heroin ring originating in France. The Exorcist director William Friedkin helms the film, which is based on the non-fiction book by Robin Moore. Head over to our The French Connection quotes page.