Top 100 of all time - # 51-55

In the last five of the bottom half, we have an eclectic group of films, but all deserving in their own way.

#55 - Rocky, 1976.

Bringing Oscar and a new attitude to sports movies (and the sport of boxing), Stallone penned a true winner. Winning picture and director, Stallone didn't get the writing or acting gold, but he became just the third writer/actor to be nominated for the same film after only Chaplin and Orson Welles. Not bad company. One of the better underdog stories around.

#54 - The Sixth Sense, 1999.

M. Night Shaymalan debuted a near flawless piece of film in the supernatural thriller genre, and then began his decline as a writer/director ever since. The Sixth Sense brought something to the movie-going experience that was missing in the late 1990's, and with the exception of the Matrix, it was a rejuvenating breath of fresh air to an otherwise stale and predictable time. He was dead the whole time? Brilliant.

#53 - The Exorcist, 1973.

Frightening and timeless, you can't eat pea soup in the same way after you've seen this film. Before the time of special effects, or found-footage films, this was the last of the great horror films. With Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, and all of Wes Craven's creations, it never got quite as good as the Exorcist. Probably the scariest film adjusted for technology (pound for pound?) How do you even compare now and then?

#52 - Titanic, 1997.

Love it or hate it, Titanic was a revolution in film. Earning 11 Oscars, it was unprecedented box office and critical success in a time yearning for something, well, titanic. The most expensive movie ever made at the time, it demolished the floodgates for earning potential, surpassing the billion dollar mark. Even years later, it's an impressive piece of work.

#51 - Return of the Jedi, 1983.

The first of three of the Star Wars films to grace this list, (can you guess which ones?) Jedi is just pure fun. A fitting finale to the greatest sci-fi epic (sorry Star Trek) ever created. George Lucas is a genius for letting other directors in on his sequels, though I'm not sure exactly why he gave up that control. He could have benefited by having other directors film episodes 1, 2, and 3.

Stay tuned for the top 50!