Academy Awards, in bid for populism, doubles Best Picture nominations to 10

The Academy Awards just grew twice as crowded at the top. For the first time since 1943, 10 movies -- instead of the current five -- will be nominated for the best picture Oscar.

The surprise announcement today by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences means that some acclaimed genres that typically don't make the shortlist for the top Academy Award -- animated movies, comedies, documentaries and crowd-pleasing spectacles such as "The Dark Knight" -- will now have a much better chance of being invited to Hollywood's biggest party.

The number of nominees in other major categories will remain at five.

The announcement is certain to add even more jockeying (and the attendant advertising, screenings and parties) to the already multimillion-dollar Hollywood business of Oscar campaigning. But by expanding the best picture field to include potentially more populist titles, the academy may be able to boost the collapsing ratings for its annual television broadcast.

"After more than six decades, the academy is returning to some of its earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the year," academy President Sid Ganis said in announcing the news. "The final outcome, of course, will be the same -- one best picture winner -- but the race to the finish line will feature 10, not just five, great movies from 2009.

"Having 10 best picture nominees is going to allow academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize," Ganis said. "I can't wait to see what that list of 10 looks like when the nominees are announced in February."

Some films last year "were excellent and could have been nominated had there been more slots," Ganis said, adding that the critical and box office success of such films as “The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man” and “Tropic Thunder” could have influenced the decision. The inclusion of such films "might increase audience interest,” Ganis said of the Oscar telecast, “but that isn't the goal."

"The field is vast," he said. "There were 300 eligible movies this year and last. Ten nominees out of 300 is still spectacular. It'll be less clustered and more open with more possibilities."

Next year's Oscars, which recognize excellence in movies released in 2009, will be awarded on March 7. Nominations will be announced Feb. 2.

From 1932 and 1943, the top Oscar category included 10 films, but the format was switched to five starting in 1944.

In 1939, the famous 10 nominees included winner "Gone With the Wind" opposite "Dark Victory," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," "Love Affair," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Ninotchka," "Of Mice and Men," "Stagecoach," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wuthering Heights."

The Oscars is not the only prominent award show expanding its tent. Producers of the Emmys said that the number of nominees for some categories will expand from five to six.

-- John Horn and Juliette Funes

For reactions from Hollywood and the impact this news will have on movie studios and ABC's telecast of the Oscars, check out our full coverage on the Company Town blog.

In Wednesday's Times, find out more about the decision, its impact on the film business and the reaction of stars like Samuel L. Jackson and Jon Favreau; the financial reasons behind the move; the new calculus for potential best picture nominees; and read commentary from film critic Kenneth Turan and columnist Patrick Goldstein.

Comments

[Let the games begin]

How about splitting comedy/action from drama. Or action? Those never win.

[swf]

Hey Academy. This is not Brentwood T-Ball or Malibu soccer. Not every kid goes home a winner. This is grwn-up real life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And it's not about genres or films Ganis thinks were "overlooked." This is about the membership's voting. Period.

[C.Chaplin]

That is one stupid, lame ass ego driven idea! So now the award show will DRAG on even longer. I could understand if this was the 30's 40's or 50's at least they made great films to chose from. What's next? 10 nominees for the actors (oh god I sense that will be in their next contract negotiation). Have two winners? Good timing since the studios are scaling back on production which means less film competition too! (eveyrone a winner) Plus Gold is going up! (the Oscar trophy will be worth more too) god help the film industry.

[Seattle Maggie]

What a joke! These overpaid "geniuses" put out so much crap every year that it’s a stretch to find five good movies, much less ten.

[Gay Bob]

They'll do anything to make an extra buck.

[walter]

Bad idea.....most years do not have 10 pictures worth being nominated. By the way, who is the brainiac that made up that "12 best oscar pictures list?" Shakespeare in Love? Give me a break.....Elizabeth was a much better picture, as was Saving Private Ryan. Also, Casablanca not on this list? Or Schindler's list? I could go on and on.......