Framed is a daily word puzzle where players must identify a movie title based on a series of six still frames. The game tests both film knowledge and visual analysis skills. Each new puzzle goes live daily.
The game is developed by the ‘Framed WTF’ team and is solved by recognizing the subtle clues embedded in the director’s visual choices.
Game Rules and Use of Attempts
The fundamental rule is simple: you have six attempts to guess the correct, secret movie title.
- The first image is often the most difficult, providing a highly specific but often contextless clue.
- If a guess is wrong, a new, wider, or more revealing scene is displayed. You can also skip to the next scene without guessing by submitting a blank entry.
- Success is measured by solving the puzzle in the fewest attempts possible.
The Most Crucial Mechanic: Autofill
The biggest tactical advantage Framed offers is its autofill search bar.
You must use this as a filter, not just an entry field. Typing in the name of a known actor, director, or even just a year will instantly filter the thousands of possible movies down to a short, manageable list.
If the second frame clearly shows Tom Cruise, type “Tom Cruise.” Instead of guessing Top Gun, you’ll see a list of his films that are possible answers. This eliminates over 99% of the database instantly.
Expert Strategy
True mastery in Framed means learning to read the scene for production details, not just actors. The best players often solve the puzzle before the final image by looking for these subtle visual markers.
1. Identify the Decade and Genre by Visuals
Before you recognize the actor, look at the technical details:
- Aspect Ratio (Screen Shape): Is it a narrow, old-school 4:3 box (early films, or a specific stylized choice)? Is it a super-wide Cinemascope ratio (indicating a 1950s epic or a modern blockbuster)? This tells you the approximate decade and budget.
- Color Grading: Does the scene have a grainy, warm, sepia look (90s indie film)? Is it intensely desaturated blue or green (a modern sci-fi or thriller)? The dominant color palette is often a signature of the film’s director or cinematographer.
2. Costume and Set Design
Costumes are your biggest clue for period pieces. If the characters are wearing very specific, recognizable uniforms or historically accurate clothing, you can immediately confirm the setting (e.g., World War II, a 1920s jazz club, etc.).
Pro Tip: If the first frame is a recognizable period costume, use your second guess to type a general keyword like “World War” or “Western” into the autofill bar to see the list of matching titles.
3. The Second Guess is for Elimination
A common beginner mistake is trying to get the right movie on guess #2. An experienced player uses the second guess as a high-leverage elimination move.
If the first frame suggested a movie was made after 2010 (based on digital clarity), but the second frame shows a major actor whose filmography spans the 80s, your second guess should be a movie you suspect is not the answer, but uses high-frequency letters. You are prioritizing elimination over accuracy. By eliminating five new, common letters, you gain more information than guessing wrong on a title you’re only 50% sure of.
Common Player Questions
Q1. Are the scenes always from popular movies?
The puzzles generally feature widely released and recognized films from across different decades, though they occasionally use challenging indie movies or foreign language films that have achieved international recognition.
Q2. What if I can’t guess the movie after six tries?
The puzzle will reveal the correct title, and you’ll have to wait until midnight EST for the next challenge. The official site does not allow players to access previous, archived puzzles.
Q3. Are there other games like Framed?
Yes, there are other games like Framed. Moviedle uses movie scenes, while Heardle and Globle use music clips and global-themed puzzles, respectively.
