15 Across
NYT Daily • August 25, 2025
"___ Mia!" (2008 film)
Answer:
MAMMA
Hint:
This musical’s title is also the Italian word for a beloved family figure.
Explanation:
This clue references the 2008 musical film "Mamma Mia!"—the exclamation mark in the title is part of the answer. The blank at the start hints you’re filling in the first word, which is "Mamma," a playful Italian term for "mom" that also ties into the movie’s ABBA-inspired soundtrack. The quotation marks in the clue signal it’s a direct title, so no extra wordplay is needed beyond recognizing the popular film.