This is big: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today that it will double the number of films that are nominated for the best picture, from five to ten. The change will take effect next year. The ten nominees wil be announced on Feb. 2 and the winner will be announced on the telecast March 7.

Until 1943, ten nominees were the norm.  In announcing the return to the old standard, Academy president Sid Ganis cited 1939, when the nominated films included such enduring classics as “Gone with the Wind” (which won the award), “The Wizard of Oz,” “Stagecoach,” “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” “Ninotchka,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Wuthering Heights,” “Dark Victory,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “Love Affair.”

With the number reduced to five, many deserving films have been shut out. Last year’s conspicuous example was the blockbuster superhero movie “The Dark Knight.” Comedies, documentaries, foreign films and animated movies also have been squeezed from the short list.

Naturally, the Academy hopes that including more films will improve the ratings of the telecast, which are still solid but far below the pre-cable heyday.

But I’ll tell you this: If “The Hangover’ gets nominated for best picture, the game is over.