Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into film trivia, conversational fill, and a satisfying sound-alike payoff. Settle in for a lively grid with several clean entry points.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, offering a mid-size grid that takes a few satisfying minutes to clear. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 10x10
Total Clues: 34 (17 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 23D is the trickiest clue because its streaming reference only clicks once you say the target aloud and connect it with 28A.
Gimme Clue: 4D is the clearest gimme, since the animated hero is unmistakable from the film clue.
Theme Spotted: "Double Feature"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Frozen desserts
Hint: Think of small frozen treats served in flavors such as lemon or cherry. Four letters, starts with I.
5A. "Funny!"
Hint: Use a brief laugh-like reaction to something amusing. Three letters, starts with H.
8A. See 16-Down
Hint: Complete the movie title indicated by 16D with the part describing how an origin story starts. Six letters, starts with B.
11A. Mysterious sighting up above, in brief
Hint: The clue seeks the usual abbreviation for an unexplained object spotted overhead. Three letters, starts with U.
12A. Cow's sounds in "Old MacDonald"
Hint: Imitate the repeated bovine refrain from the familiar farm song. Six letters, starts with M.
13A. Undergarment associated with fittings
Hint: Picture the supportive undergarment for which a shopper might receive a fitting. Three letters, starts with B.
14A. 2018 movie starring Sandra Bullock
Hint: Recall the Sandra Bullock thriller about survivors who must avoid looking at a deadly force. Seven letters, starts with B.
16A. 1995 movie starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence
Hint: Name the buddy-cop film featuring detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. Seven letters, starts with B.
17A. Alias abbreviation
Hint: Use the shortened notation that introduces another name for the same person or thing. Three letters, starts with A.
19A. Test that measures brain waves, in brief
Hint: Think of the abbreviated test that records electrical activity in the brain. Three letters, starts with E.
20A. "You're just ... giving up?"
Hint: The missing phrase expresses surprised resignation after learning someone is quitting. Nine letters, starts with S.
24A. Arrived
Hint: Use the simple past-tense verb for reaching a destination. Four letters, starts with C.
25A. Paranasal cavity
Hint: Picture an air-filled space beside the nasal passages. Five letters, starts with S.
27A. Skin care brand
Hint: Think of the longstanding facial-care label associated with moisturizers. Four letters, starts with O.
28A. Words from Hamlet that sound like 23-Down
Hint: Recall the opening words of Hamlet's famous question, then match their sound with 23D. Four letters, starts with T.
29A. Shade close to beige
Hint: Look for a warm, light-brown shade close to beige. Three letters, starts with T.
30A. Cancel
Hint: Use a terse verb meaning to reject, scrap, or call off. Three letters, starts with N.
Down Hints
1D. Tech company nicknamed "Big Blue"
Hint: Turn the Big Blue nickname into the initials of the company's full name. Three letters, starts with I.
2D. Someone who might get a large compensation package
Hint: The clue points to the top corporate executive who often receives stock and bonus compensation. Three letters, starts with C.
3D. Alter ___
Hint: The blank names one's sense of self or self-importance. Three letters, starts with E.
4D. "The Lion King" protagonist
Hint: Picture the young lion who grows into the ruler of Pride Rock. Five letters, starts with S.
5D. Spousal nickname
Hint: Use an affectionate, informal term for a husband. Five letters, starts with H.
6D. Picked-out hairstyles
Hint: Picture rounded natural hairstyles shaped outward with a pick. Five letters, starts with A.
7D. April Fools' Day undertaking
Hint: Think of a planned deception or prank suited to April Fools' Day. Four letters, starts with H.
9D. "I have zero clue"
Hint: Use the blunt conversational phrase that admits total uncertainty. Six letters, starts with N.
10D. Frozen desserts
Hint: Think of fruit-based frozen confections that are commonly made without dairy. Seven letters, starts with S.
15D. Watch a beagle or a bloodhound
Hint: The target is the task of caring for someone's canine companion while its owner is away. Six letters, starts with D.
16D. With 8-Across, 2005 movie starring Christian Bale
Hint: Pair Gotham's caped vigilante with 8A to form the Christian Bale movie named by the clue. Six letters, starts with B.
17D. Wide tie
Hint: Picture a broad, formal neckcloth often tucked into a shirt or waistcoat. Five letters, starts with A.
18D. Eucalyptus muncher
Hint: Look for the Australian marsupial known for feeding on eucalyptus leaves. Five letters, starts with K.
21D. Uninspired opener on a dating app, perhaps
Hint: Use a one-word greeting that requires almost no effort from a dating-app match. Three letters, starts with H.
22D. Privy to
Hint: The phrase means included in confidential knowledge or aware of a plan. Four letters, starts with I.
23D. Streaming service where you might expect to find the movies in this puzzle (say it out loud!)?
Hint: Look for the free, ad-supported streaming platform whose spoken name echoes the Hamlet wording at 28A. Four letters, starts with T.
26D. Word before drive or education
Hint: Find the shared noun that can precede both drive and education. Three letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Frozen desserts
Answer: ICES
5A. "Funny!"
Answer: HAH
8A. See 16-Down
Answer: BEGINS
11A. Mysterious sighting up above, in brief
Answer: UFO
12A. Cow's sounds in "Old MacDonald"
Answer: MOOMOO
13A. Undergarment associated with fittings
Answer: BRA
14A. 2018 movie starring Sandra Bullock
Answer: BIRDBOX
16A. 1995 movie starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence
Answer: BADBOYS
17A. Alias abbreviation
Answer: AKA
19A. Test that measures brain waves, in brief
Answer: EEG
20A. "You're just ... giving up?"
Answer: SOTHATSIT
24A. Arrived
Answer: CAME
25A. Paranasal cavity
Answer: SINUS
27A. Skin care brand
Answer: OLAY
28A. Words from Hamlet that sound like 23-Down
Answer: TOBE
29A. Shade close to beige
Answer: TAN
30A. Cancel
Answer: NIX
Down Answers
1D. Tech company nicknamed "Big Blue"
Answer: IBM
2D. Someone who might get a large compensation package
Answer: CEO
3D. Alter ___
Answer: EGO
4D. "The Lion King" protagonist
Answer: SIMBA
5D. Spousal nickname
Answer: HUBBY
6D. Picked-out hairstyles
Answer: AFROS
7D. April Fools' Day undertaking
Answer: HOAX
9D. "I have zero clue"
Answer: NOIDEA
10D. Frozen desserts
Answer: SORBETS
15D. Watch a beagle or a bloodhound
Answer: DOGSIT
16D. With 8-Across, 2005 movie starring Christian Bale
Answer: BATMAN
17D. Wide tie
Answer: ASCOT
18D. Eucalyptus muncher
Answer: KOALA
21D. Uninspired opener on a dating app, perhaps
Answer: HEY
22D. Privy to
Answer: INON
23D. Streaming service where you might expect to find the movies in this puzzle (say it out loud!)?
Answer: TUBI
26D. Word before drive or education
Answer: SEX
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 23D, TUBI, defines the puzzle because it is a real streaming service suited to the movie entries and, spoken aloud, it matches TO BE at 28A. That double duty turns a proper name into the grid's payoff.
Wordplay Winner: The wordplay winner is BATMAN BEGINS, divided between 16D and 8A. The cross-reference withholds half the title until the solver treats two perpendicular entries as one movie name.
Quick Fill: SIMBA is the fastest confident fill because the Lion King clue is direct. It anchors ICES, BEGINS, MOOMOO, BIRDBOX, and BADBOYS through its crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use compact factual Downs such as IBM, CEO, and EGO to secure the upper-left crossings before wrestling with longer Across material. Their letters stabilize ICES, BEGINS, and MOOMOO.
Treat linked clues as packages: BATMAN unlocks BEGINS, while saying TUBI aloud confirms TO BE. A cross-reference can remove uncertainty from two entries at once.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid played fair, offering crisp short fill before asking for its movie connections and final homophone. TUBI supplied the memorable last click.
See you at the next grid.
