(Fortune) -- Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman, Sony Pictures Entertainment of Sony (Charts), ranks No. 41 on Fortune's 2006 list of 50 Most Powerful Women.

The Da Vinci Code and Talladega Nights pushed Sony into second place in summer box-office receipts, a big improvement from last year's eighth-place finish. In September, Pascal became co-chairman, formalizing an already tight working relationship with co-chairman and CEO Michael Lynton.

By the key criteria Fortune uses in assembling its annual list - the size, importance, and health of each business in the global economy, and the momentum of each woman's career (along with her social and cultural influence) - there's no question that the power of women in the corporate sphere is rising.

Indeed, it could be called the year of the Most Powerful Woman CEO. The top seven positions on Fortune's 2006 Most Powerful Women list are held by CEOs.

Some other powerful women on the list include: Sallie Krawcheck, Citigroup (Charts); Ann Livermore, Hewlett-Packard (Charts); Ellen Kullman, DuPont (Charts); Pat Woertz, Archer Daniels Midland (Charts); Linda Dillman, Wal-Mart (Charts); and Meg Whitman, eBay (Charts).

Next: Full list: 50 Most Powerful Women at //money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fortune/mostpowerfulwomen/1.html

Plus: Most Powerful Women: 10 Highest-Paid at //money.cnn.com/popups/2006/fortune/womenpay/index.html