Oscar rounded up the usual suspects -- and then some -- today, setting the stage for the most crowded Best Picture race since dark horse "Casablanca" took the top prize in March 1944.

In the biggest change to the most storied awards in Hollywood, 10 movies were nominated: "Avatar," "The Blind Side," "District 9, "An Education," "The Hurt Locker," "Inglourious Basterds," "Precious," "A Serious Man," "Up," "Up in the Air."

The inclusion of "The Blind Side," an inspirational word-of-mouth hit driven by Sandra Bullock's powerhouse performance, means TV viewers may have a horse (or two) in this year's race. Had the rules been changed last year, it's likely "The Dark Knight" would have been nominated.

"Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker" each scored nine nominations while "Inglourious Basterds" snagged eight and "Precious" and "Up in the Air" a half-dozen each.

Kathryn Bigelow, who directed "The Hurt Locker," became the fourth woman to be nominated for directing, following in the footsteps of Sofia Coppola, Lina Wertmuller and Jane Campion. She finds herself competing against ex-husband and "Avatar" mastermind James Cameron.

Key nominees:

Actor: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"; George Clooney, "Up in the Air"; Colin Firth, "A Single Man"; Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"; Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker."

Actress: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"; Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"; Carey Mulligan, "An Education"; Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious," Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia."

Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, "Invictus"; Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"; Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"; Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones'; Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds."

Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Nine"; Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"; Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"; Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"; Mo'Nique, "Precious."

Director: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"; James Cameron, "Avatar"; Lee Daniels, "Precious"; Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"; Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds."

Animated film: "Coraline," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The Princess and the Frog," "The Secret of Kells," "Up."

Original screenplay: "The Hurt Locker," "Inglourious Basterds," "The Messenger," "A Serious Man," "Up."

Adapted screenplay: "District 9," "An Education," "In the Loop," "Precious," "Up in the Air."

Foreign language film: "Ajami," Israel; "El Secreto de Sus Ojos," Argentina; "The Milk of Sorrow," Peru; "Un Prophete," France; "The White Ribbon," Germany.

Viggo Mortensen and young Kodi Smit-McPhee gave performances worthy of Oscar nominations in "The Road" but were left out in the post-apocalyptic cold. In another year, former Pittsburgher Rob Marshall might have been nominated for "Nine," but he was scorned, too.

That leaves "The Hurt Locker" star Brian Geraghty, who lived in Pittsburgh from roughly ages 3 to 7 and attended North Allegheny's Espe Elementary School, to carry the flag. His father was a vice president of marketing for Heinz.

Streep, here scoring her 16th nomination, extended her lead as the most nominated performer in Oscar history. She long ago pulled away from Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson, with 12 each.

In the acting categories, 12 are first-timer nominees and five are previous winners: Clooney, Freeman, Cruz, Mirren and Streep. In fact, Streep and Cruz, a winner for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," are the only returning performers from a year ago.

"Up," meanwhile, is the second fully animated feature nominated for Best Picture.

Actors Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will host the 82nd Academy Awards from Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on March 7, slightly later than usual due to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Just as Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, Oscar saw his in the glare of pre-dawn TV lights, guaranteeing five more weeks of campaigning.

The nominations came as "Avatar" is poised to set a domestic box office record. The sci-fi fantasy has made more than $2 billion -- yes, "b" as in the blue aliens who populate Cameron's world -- around the world and soon will pass "Titanic" on the all-time domestic list.

"Avatar" made 3-D a must-see and lured newcomers into IMAX auditoriums, all the while picking up more money for the film frills.

Anne Hathaway and Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, announced the nominations in Beverly Hills.

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