This year I’m sharing some of my favorite films in the Western Genre, counting down a new selection each Friday. Periodically throughout the year I’ll be sharing them in batches. First up is my No. 50 to No. 41 selections. They appear in ascending order. You can keep up with the countdown weekly on my blog.

No. 50: Stagecoach (1939)
About: You can’t get through the Western Genre without talking about John Wayne in front of the camera and John Ford behind the camera. This classic film was their first pairing and it’s a good one. It’s well worth checking out.

No. 49: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
About: This film from Andrew Dominik is beautifully shot and carefully paced. I like the cast and the way it’s put together. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck are good here. This might not be everyone’s idea of a traditional western, but I enjoyed it.

No. 48: 3 Godfathers (1948)
About: Another western starring Wayne, and another film directed by Ford. This one has Christmas elements and is a different kind of film as three outlaws end up risking their lives and freedom to care for a baby. I was moved watching it.

No. 47: Three Amigos! (1986)
About: John Landis directed this comedy starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Chevy Chase. I like the set up and the humor here. This isn’t a traditional western, perhaps, but I enjoy the comedy and the story.

No. 46: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
About: From the Coen Brothers, this is a series of short stories. I enjoy the way it all comes together and the casting and stories here. My favorite is probably the first one with Tim Blake Nelson, but they all have their moments.

No. 45: The Searchers (1956)
About: Yet another Western that pairs Wayne and Ford. We’ve now seen one in three different decades on this list, which shows the depth and length of their partnership. This is another classic tale and one of the most famous Westerns from Wayne.

No. 44: The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
About: Here Wayne is paired with Dean Martin, among others. This is a story of wayward sons who gather after the death of their mother to protect their family home. It’s a great pairing with some good action sequences. I enjoyed the story and the production.

No. 43: True Grit (1969)
About: Rooster Cogburn is an iconic character in films. This film, based on the novel from Charles Portis, is the first adaptation, but not the last. It’s also not the only one on this list. I like Wayne in the part, and this is certainly an iconic story.

No. 42: High Noon (1952)
About: One of the hallmarks of the Western genre is the showdown on the streets. That is in fact the main point of this film, starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. I enjoy the production and the set up here. Cooper is quite good and here and this is a classic that is worth checking out.

No. 41: The Missing (2003)
About: This is a Western from director Ron Howard. Cate Blanchett plays a mother determined to retrieve her kidnapped daughter (Evan Rachel Wood), while Tommy Lee Jones is her estranged father who goes on the mission with them. This cast is strong, including Aaron Eckhart and Val Kilmer in small roles. I enjoy the action and the tension of this production.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.