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"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," said Academy President Sid Ganis.
"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," he said.
Ganis noted that during the Academy's early years, there were usually more than just five films nominated for best picture. There were 10 nominees in the category nine times, the last being in 1943, when "Casablanca" was named best picture.
There were eight nominees in the best picture category in 1931-32, and 12 in 1934 and 1935.
According to Ganis, having 10 best picture nominees will 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.
In conjunction with Wednesday's announcement, the Academy is hosting screenings in Los Angeles and New York of the 10 best picture nominees from 1939, when the field included classics such as "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "The Wizard of Oz," "Stagecoach" and eventual winner "Gone with the Wind."
Nominations for the 82th Academy Awards will be announced February 2, and the ceremony will be held March 7.