Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and film trivia sets up a cheeky wordplay payoff, with conversational clues keeping the grid lively. Come on in and follow the crossings.
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: 10x9
Total Clues: 31 (15 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 21A is the trickiest because it asks you to connect 11A and 16A rather than retrieve a straightforward definition.
Gimme Clue: 1A is the clearest gimme, a direct capital-to-country connection without any verbal disguise.
Theme Spotted: "A Spike Lee Joint"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Havana's home
Hint: Think of the Caribbean island nation whose capital is Havana. Four letters, starts with C.
5A. Ink ___ (squid's pouch)
Hint: The blank names the anatomical pouch that stores a squid's defensive ink. Three letters, starts with S.
8A. "It's the end ___ era"
Hint: Complete the familiar expression for a chapter coming to a close. Four letters, starts with O.
9A. Lacked a shadow of a doubt
Hint: Use a past-tense verb for possessing certainty. Four letters, starts with K.
11A. Director of 2019's "Parasite," the first non-English language movie to win Best Picture
Hint: Think of the South Korean filmmaker behind Parasite. Ten letters, starts with B.
14A. Equipment
Hint: Think of the collective term for supplies packed for camping or a sport. Four letters, starts with G.
15A. Synonym for "hot goss"
Hint: Think of the slang noun invited by the command to spill the gossip. Three letters, starts with T.
16A. Actress who reprised an earlier role in 2026's "The Devil Wears Prada 2"
Hint: Think of the British actress who played Miranda Priestly's senior assistant in the original movie. Ten letters, starts with E.
19A. Vietnamese New Year
Hint: Use the Vietnamese name for the lunar new year celebration. Three letters, starts with T.
20A. Secret hideout
Hint: Picture a villain's concealed base. Four letters, starts with L.
21A. Type of movie that would be apt for 11- and 16-Across?
Hint: Read the names at 11A and 16A for a verbal joke rather than a shared screen credit. Ten letters, starts with S.
25A. "Wanna play?," at the poker table
Hint: Use a casual question asking whether someone will join the game. Five letters, starts with Y.
26A. Item in a chest
Hint: Picture a workshop storage chest rather than a treasure chest. Four letters, starts with T.
27A. Dr. ___ Octavius a.k.a. Doctor Octopus
Hint: Recall the civilian identity of Spider-Man's mechanical-armed adversary. Four letters, starts with O.
28A. "Ooh, look at me, I'm so cultured" sort
Hint: Think of a person who flaunts refined taste to assert superiority. Four letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Cornfield discard
Hint: Think of the central core left after corn kernels are removed. Three letters, starts with C.
2D. Sighting mentioned in classified files, maybe
Hint: Use the familiar initials associated with a mysterious object in the sky. Three letters, starts with U.
3D. Quickly do a task
Hint: Use an informal phrase for finishing a job in a quick burst of effort. Nine letters, starts with B.
4D. Sweetie
Hint: Think of an affectionate term for someone exceptionally kind or well behaved. Five letters, starts with A.
5D. Chocolate-and-toffee confection from Hershey
Hint: Think of Hershey's crisp butter-toffee candy coated in milk chocolate. Seven letters, starts with S.
6D. "That's gonna be ___ from me, dawg"
Hint: The missing phrase delivers a rejection in a casual judging verdict. Three letters, starts with A.
7D. Roman soldier for which an Amex card is named
Hint: Think of an ancient Roman military officer whose title also identifies a premium Amex card. Nine letters, starts with C.
10D. "What time?"
Hint: Condense the question into a direct request for timing. Four letters, starts with W.
12D. Host of the most episodes of "The Tonight Show" (4,610)
Hint: Think of the late-night comedian recognized for his prominent chin and car collection. Seven letters, starts with J.
13D. Kind of milk in lieu of soy or almond
Hint: Think of a cereal grain used to make a creamy dairy alternative. Three letters, starts with O.
16D. Online crafts marketplace
Hint: Think of the shopping site associated with handmade goods and independent sellers. Four letters, starts with E.
17D. "Same here"
Hint: Use a brief reply expressing that you share someone's experience. Five letters, starts with M.
18D. Pumps iron
Hint: Think of the action performed during a weight-training workout. Five letters, starts with L.
22D. Tiny quibble
Hint: Think of a petty fault someone could pick at. Three letters, starts with N.
23D. Brit's toilet
Hint: Use an informal British term for the bathroom. Three letters, starts with L.
24D. Org. for the Giants and Guardians
Hint: Use the initials of the professional baseball organization encompassing these clubs. Three letters, starts with M.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Havana's home
Answer: CUBA
5A. Ink ___ (squid's pouch)
Answer: SAC
8A. "It's the end ___ era"
Answer: OFAN
9A. Lacked a shadow of a doubt
Answer: KNEW
11A. Director of 2019's "Parasite," the first non-English language movie to win Best Picture
Answer: BONGJOONHO
14A. Equipment
Answer: GEAR
15A. Synonym for "hot goss"
Answer: TEA
16A. Actress who reprised an earlier role in 2026's "The Devil Wears Prada 2"
Answer: EMILYBLUNT
19A. Vietnamese New Year
Answer: TET
20A. Secret hideout
Answer: LAIR
21A. Type of movie that would be apt for 11- and 16-Across?
Answer: STONERFILM
25A. "Wanna play?," at the poker table
Answer: YOUIN
26A. Item in a chest
Answer: TOOL
27A. Dr. ___ Octavius a.k.a. Doctor Octopus
Answer: OTTO
28A. "Ooh, look at me, I'm so cultured" sort
Answer: SNOB
Down Answers
1D. Cornfield discard
Answer: COB
2D. Sighting mentioned in classified files, maybe
Answer: UFO
3D. Quickly do a task
Answer: BANGITOUT
4D. Sweetie
Answer: ANGEL
5D. Chocolate-and-toffee confection from Hershey
Answer: SKORBAR
6D. "That's gonna be ___ from me, dawg"
Answer: ANO
7D. Roman soldier for which an Amex card is named
Answer: CENTURION
10D. "What time?"
Answer: WHEN
12D. Host of the most episodes of "The Tonight Show" (4,610)
Answer: JAYLENO
13D. Kind of milk in lieu of soy or almond
Answer: OAT
16D. Online crafts marketplace
Answer: ETSY
17D. "Same here"
Answer: METOO
18D. Pumps iron
Answer: LIFTS
22D. Tiny quibble
Answer: NIT
23D. Brit's toilet
Answer: LOO
24D. Org. for the Giants and Guardians
Answer: MLB
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 21A, "Type of movie that would be apt for 11- and 16-Across?", earns its STONER FILM answer through BONG JOON HO and EMILY BLUNT. BONG and BLUNT each have a cannabis-related meaning, turning straightforward movie trivia into a neatly linked joke.
Wordplay Winner: 26A, "Item in a chest", wins for compact misdirection with TOOL. The answer makes chest a workshop storage box, redirecting the image away from treasure or anatomy.
Quick Fill: CUBA at 1A is the fastest confident fill because Havana points directly to its country. It supplies the opening letters of COB, UFO, BANG IT OUT and ANGEL, giving the upper-left corner a firm base.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use short, direct entries to build long names through crossings. COB and UFO confirm the opening of BONG JOON HO, while ETSY and ME TOO establish the opening of EMILY BLUNT.
Save a cross-referenced joke until its linked entries are filled. Reading BONG JOON HO and EMILY BLUNT together makes STONER FILM easier to recognize than tackling its clue in isolation.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct clues provide a welcoming foothold, and STONER FILM rewards a second reading of the names. That shift from recognition to wordplay gives the grid its grin.
See you at the next grid.