41 Down

NYT Daily • August 2, 2025

Title character of a Jake Gyllenhaal cult classic

Answer:

DARKO

Hint:

["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword clue:\n\n*\"Surname of a troubled teen in a surreal 2001 film.\"*\n\nThis hint:\n- Narrows the focus to the character’s last name.\n- References the film’s genre (\"surreal\") and year to jog memory.\n- Avoids repeating \"Jake Gyllenhaal\" or \"cult classic\" while still guiding the solver.\n\nIt’s easier than the original clue but doesn’t outright reveal \"Darko.\""]

Explanation:

The clue **"Title character of a Jake Gyllenhaal cult classic"** leads to the answer **"DARKO"** through the following reasoning: - The **cult classic** in question is *Donnie Darko* (2001), a well-known film starring Jake Gyllenhaal. - The **title character** of the movie is **Donnie Darko**, and the answer is derived from his **last name, "Darko."** - The clue relies on the solver recognizing the film and its protagonist, as well as the convention in crosswords where a single name (often a surname) can represent a full name. Thus, **"DARKO"** is the correct answer as it refers to the last name of the title character from the movie.

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