Letter Boxed vs Letterboxd
Letter Boxed is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Letterboxd is a social site and app where people log, rate and review films. The names sound the same. The two have different owners, creators and purposes.
Two more things share the word too: a film and video term, and an outdoor hobby. This guide sorts out all of them.
| Letter Boxed | Letterboxd | |
| What it is | Daily word puzzle | Social site and app for film and TV |
| Run by | The New York Times | Letterboxd, majority owned by Tiny |
| Created by | Sam Ezersky | Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow |
| Launched | 2019 | 2011, public in 2013 |
| What you do | Chain words to cover 12 letters | Log, rate and review films |
| Cost | Subscription required | Free, with paid tiers |
| Spelling | Two words, ends in “ed” | One word, ends in “d” |
What Is Letter Boxed?
Letter Boxed is a word game from The New York Times Games. Sam Ezersky created it, and it launched in 2019 after a 2018 soft launch, according to Wikipedia.
The board holds 12 letters, three on each side of a square. You spell words of at least three letters. Each new word starts with the last letter of the one before it. No two letters in a row can come from the same side. The goal is to use every letter in as few words as possible.
A new puzzle goes live at 3 a.m. Eastern. The NYT Help Center says Letter Boxed is available to Games, All Access and Home Delivery subscribers. Our guide explains whether Letter Boxed is free. New to the rules? Start with our how to play guide.
What Is Letterboxd?
Letterboxd is a social cataloging service for film and television. Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow founded it in Auckland, New Zealand. They launched a private version in October 2011 and opened the site to everyone in February 2013, per Wikipedia.
Members log and rate films, write reviews, keep a diary and build watchlists and lists. They can also follow other members. People often call it “Goodreads for movies.” Film data comes from The Movie Database.
The site passed 30 million members as of July 2026, according to Wikipedia. Browsing and basic membership are free. Paid Pro and Patron tiers cost $19 and $49 a year, as World of Reel reported in September 2026.
A Canadian company, Tiny, bought a 60 percent stake in September 2023. The deal valued Letterboxd at roughly $50 to $60 million. The founders stayed on to run it, per Tiny’s announcement and Wikipedia.
Why People Mix Them Up
The answer lies in the name. Letterboxd comes from letterboxing, the film practice of showing widescreen images with black bars on a narrower screen, according to Wikipedia. Merriam-Webster dates the word “letterboxed” to 1982. It likely comes from the bars’ resemblance to a mailbox slot.
Letter Boxed, the puzzle, describes the box of letters on its board. So both names point to a box, and both are said the same way. Only the spelling tells them apart. The puzzle is two words ending in “ed.” The film site is one word ending in “d.”
Two Other Meanings of Letterboxing
The film and video term
In film and video, letterboxing keeps a widescreen picture’s original shape. The screen shows black bars above and below the image. Wikipedia describes it as an alternative to cropping the picture to fit.
The outdoor hobby
Letterboxing is also an outdoor hobby that mixes orienteering, art and puzzle solving. People hide small weatherproof boxes in public places and share clues online, in catalogs or by word of mouth. Each box holds a notebook and a rubber stamp. Finders stamp their own notebook with the box’s stamp, then leave their personal stamp in the logbook, per Wikipedia.
The hobby began on Dartmoor, England. A guide named James Perrott left a bottle for visiting cards at Cranmere Pool in 1854. Hikers later left letters and postcards in boxes, which gave the hobby its name, per Atlas Quest and Visit Dartmoor. Interest in the United States grew after a Smithsonian magazine article in April 1998.
A Twist: The NYT and Letterboxd
The two names crossed paths in September 2026. The New York Times reported that its own parent company and A24 were among suitors for Letterboxd, in a sale expected to value it above $300 million, according to Variety. Deadline confirmed that the NYT and A24 had put in second round bids.
The Times said it does not comment on speculation about acquisitions. We found no completed sale in reports available on October 18, 2026. Letter Boxed and Letterboxd run separately today. Check current news before you assume anything has changed.
How to Search for the Right One
- Spell it exactly. Two words for the puzzle. One word for the film site.
- Add a clue word. Use “NYT” or “word puzzle” for the game. Use “film” or “app” for the movie site.
- Check the publisher in app stores. The puzzle sits inside the NYT Games app. Letterboxd has its own app.
Looking for puzzle practice? Our Letter Boxed Unlimited page is free. It is independent. It is not affiliated with The New York Times or with Letterboxd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Letter Boxed the same as Letterboxd?
No. Letter Boxed is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Letterboxd is a social site where people log and review films. The names sound alike, but the two have different owners, creators and purposes.
Is Letterboxd free?
Mostly, yes. Anyone can browse without an account, and members can log and review films for free. Paid Pro and Patron plans, reported at $19 and $49 a year, add features like stats and ad free browsing.
Is Letter Boxed free?
Not the official puzzle. The NYT Help Center lists Letter Boxed for Games, All Access and Home Delivery subscribers. Letterboxd is mostly free, which is another way to tell them apart.
Who owns Letterboxd?
Canadian company Tiny holds a 60 percent majority stake, bought in 2023. Founders Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow keep 40 percent and still lead the company. Tiny has been exploring a sale, according to reports.
Did the New York Times try to buy Letterboxd?
Reports in September 2026 said the NYT Company was among the bidders. The Times said it does not comment on speculation. We found no completed sale, so Letter Boxed and Letterboxd remain separate.
What else does letterboxing mean?
Two other things share the word. In film, letterboxing means widescreen images shown with black bars. As an outdoor hobby, it means finding hidden boxes with a stamp and logbook. That hobby began on Dartmoor in 1854.
How do I search for the right one?
Spell it exactly as you mean it. Search Letter Boxed with NYT or word puzzle for the game. Search Letterboxd as one word, with film or app, for the movie site.
How We Checked This Page
We compared Wikipedia’s entries with the NYT Help Center, Tiny’s press release, Variety, Deadline and hobby sources from Atlas Quest and Visit Dartmoor. Sale news changes fast. Confirm the latest on a news site before you quote it.
