39 Across
NYT Daily • August 14, 2025
["Give me 'The Academy' for $600"] This was only the second animated film to be nominated for Best Picture, after "Beauty and the Beast"
Answer:
WHATSUP
Hint:
Think of a 2009 Pixar film where emotions are literally lifted into the sky.
Explanation:
The clue mimics a Jeopardy! question with the phrasing "Give me 'The Academy' for $600," hinting at the answer being in the form of a Jeopardy! response ("What is..."). The actual answer plays on the title of the 2009 animated film Up, which was the second animated movie nominated for Best Picture after Beauty and the Beast—but the answer is a pun: "WHAT'S UP" sounds like "What is Up?" while also being a casual greeting. The wordplay combines the Jeopardy! format with the film’s title for a clever twist.