“"Empire of the ___" (1977 sci-fi film with an approval rating of 5% on Rotten Tomatoes)” crossword clue

Reveal the answer to see why it works and where this clue has appeared before.ANTS is the answer to the New York Times crossword clue “"Empire of the ___" (1977 sci-fi film with an approval rating of 5% on Rotten Tomatoes)”. It was last seen in the puzzle of June 12, 2026, where it runs at 19 Across and fills 4 squares. It crosses 4 other entries in that grid — those are listed below and are the quickest way to confirm the letters you already have. This exact clue has run 2 times in NYT puzzles, first on June 12, 2026.