Nick of “48 Hrs.” NYT crossword clue

The clue “Nick of ‘48 Hrs.’” refers to actor Nick Nolte, who starred in the 1982 action-comedy film 48 Hrs.. In the movie, Nolte plays Jack Cates, a tough San Francisco police inspector who teams up with a convict, played by Eddie Murphy, to catch two escaped criminals. The film was a significant success and is often credited with launching the “buddy cop” genre.​

In crossword puzzles, clues that mention actors’ first names alongside film titles typically point to their surnames. Recognizing that Nick Nolte was the leading actor in 48 Hrs. helps solvers connect the clue to the correct answer. This type of clue tests the solver’s knowledge of popular culture and film history.​