| 100% | HUNGERARTIST | 12 | "A ___" 1922 short story by Franz Kafka about a person whose fame decreases over time: 2 wds. |
| 42% | MAN | 3 | "The Cares of a Family ___," short story by Franz Kafka about a creature called Odradek |
| 31% | JOHNNYMNEMONIC | 14 | 1995 film starring Keanu Reeves, based on a short story by 44-Across: 2 wds. |
| 30% | THEDOCTOR | 9 | Time Lord whose 11th incarnation was played by 15-Across on a long-running BBC sci-fi series: 2 wds. |
| 30% | DEARJOHN | 8 | Novel by Nicholas Sparks about a US Army soldier whose father suffers from Asperger's syndrome: 2 wds. |
| 29% | RUSHINGWATERS | 13 | 2016 book by Danielle Steel about six people who come together during a Hurricane in New York City: 2 wds. |
| 28% | BIO | 3 | Story about a person's life, for short |
| 28% | BABETTESFEAST | 13 | Oscar-winning film directed by Gabriel Axel based on a short story by 42-Across (2 wds.) |
| 28% | ONEMORE | 7 | "___ Time," 2023 movie about a person stuck in the same day ... which is also a hint for 18a, 30a, 35a, 4d, and 39d: 2 wds. |
| 28% | BIO | 3 | A story about a person's life, for short |
| 27% | FAIRYTALE | 9 | Story about a princess, perhaps: 2 wds. |
| 27% | POPIN | 5 | Visit for a short time: 2 wds. |
| 27% | BEFORETHELAW | 12 | A didactic prose by Franz Kafka contained in his novel "The Trial": 3 wds. |
| 27% | TIMETRAVELERS | 13 | "The ___ Wife," bestselling debut novel by Audrey Niffenegger published in 2003 about a man who moves through time and his wife: 2 wds. |
| 27% | SMELLYCAT | 9 | Song about a stinky feline, sung by Phoebe Buffay: 2 wds. |
| 27% | LONGNECKBOTTLE | 14 | 1997 #1 hit by Garth Brooks about a beer: 2 wds. |
| 27% | MADEBANK | 8 | Earned lots of money in a short time: 2 wds. |
| 26% | LOUISEFLETCHER | 14 | "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" actress whose last name means "a person who makes arrows": 2 wds. |
| 26% | STOPIN | 6 | Drop by for a short visit: 2 wds. |
| 26% | FOREVERYOUNG | 12 | Memoir by 35-Across about her time as a child star in Hollywood (2 wds.) |
| 26% | FALLINGMAN | 10 | 2007 book by 44-Across about a survivor of the 9/11 attacks: 2 wds. |
| 26% | THEANTIDOTE | 11 | 2025 novel by 30-Across about a Nebraska town during the Great Depression: 2 wds. |
| 26% | THEWATCHER | 10 | Netflix mystery thriller about a married couple harassed by a stalker: 2 wds. |
| 26% | NEWSALERT | 9 | Phone notification about a developing story, say: 2 wds. |
| 26% | NYPDRED | 7 | Crime fiction series, cowritten by 16-Across, about a Big Apple investigative task force: 2 wds. |
| 26% | FORYOU | 6 | "___, a thousand times over" (line from "The Kite Runner"): 2 wds. |
| 26% | BELIEVESINME | 12 | "She ___," a song by Kenny Rogers about a songwriter whose beloved is his biggest source of support: 3 wds. |
| 26% | HORROR | 6 | "The ___ at Red Hook," 1927 short story by H.P. Lovecraft about a sinister cult |
| 25% | METAMORPHOSIS | 13 | "The ___" 1915 novella by Franz Kafka which is the story of a salesman named Gregor Samsa |
| 25% | WHITE | 5 | "The ___ Seal," 1893 short story by Rudyard Kipling which is about a rare seal's journey |