The fantasy drama "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" led the nominations for the 81st annual Academy Awards Thursday, earning 13 nods including Best Picture, Best Actor for Brad Pitt, Best Supporting Actress for Taraji P. Henson and Best Director for David Fincher.

Also up for Best Picture are the rags-to-riches suspense drama "Slumdog Millionaire," the Nazi war crime drama "The Reader," the true life political drama "Frost/Nixon" and the Harvey Milk biopic "Milk."

The surprise nominations came for "The Reader," a film ignored by the Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild -- two organizations that usually indicate who and what will be in the running for Oscars.

In addition to its Best Picture nod, "The Reader" also earned a Best Director nomination for Stephen Daldry and Best Actress for Kate Winslet.

Winslet, thought to be a frontrunner for Best Supporting Actress in "The Reader," effectively knocked herself out of contention for the lead statuette with her acclaimed turn in "Revolutionary Road."

A year to the day since he died, Heath Ledger earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for frightening turn as The Joker in the "Batman Begins" sequel "The Dark Knight."

Despite a bevy of industry guild nominations, "The Dark Knight" was shut out of a Best Director and Best Picture nomination. In addition to Best Supporting Actor, the film earned seven more notices in the technical categories.

Also noticably absent from the nominations was "Gran Torino," directed by, produced by and starring Clint Eastwood. While Eastwood has won Oscars before for directing and producing two Best Picture winners, the film icon has never won for Best Actor.

Instead, the actors vying for the Best Actor statuette are Pitt for "Benjamin Button," Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor," Sean Penn for "Milk," Frank Langella for "Frost/Nixon" and Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler."

Winslet will face off against Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married," Angelina Jolie for "Changeling," Melissa Leo for "Frozen River" and Meryl Streep for "Doubt."

Streep made Academy history with her 15th nomination overall. The legendary actress has previously won two Oscars: for Best Supporting Actress for 1979's "Kramer vs. Kramer" and Best Actress for 1982's "Sophie's Choice."

Despite no acting nominations, "Slumdog Millionaire" racked up 10 nominations, including a Best Director nod for Danny Boyle. Joining Boyle, Daldry and Fincher in the for the director's race are Ron Howard for "Frost/Nixon" and Gus Van Sant for "Milk."

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES Clip: 'The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button' Clip: 'Frost/Nixon' Clip: 'Milk' Clip: 'Slumdog Millionaire' Preview: 'The Reader'

"Slumdog Millionaire" also took two of the three Best Original Song nominations. The other went to "WALL·E."

Shut out in all the other major categories, "Revolutionary Road" earned a suprise nomination for Michael Shannon for Best Supporting Actor. Taking on Shannon and Ledger in the the Best Supporting Actor race are Josh Brolin for "Milk," Robert Downey Jr. for "Tropic Thunder" and Phillip Seymour Hoffman for "Doubt."

"Doubt" earned Best Supporting Actress nominations for two of its cast members, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. In addition to Henson, the other nominees include Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Christina Barcelona" and Marisa Tomei for "The Wrestler."

In the running for Best Animated Feature are "Bolt," "Kung Fu Panda" and "WALL·E."

The 81st annual Academy Awards will be handed out Feb. 22 in Hollywood, Calif. "X-Men" and "Wolverine" star Hugh Jackman will host.