| 100% | CAT | 3 | "The ___ in the Hat," 2003 film with a feline pet as the main character which can be found in the movies at 33a, 43a, 46a, 4d, and 8d |
| 31% | PAW | 3 | "___ Patrol," Canadian animated TV series with animals as the main characters that was made into a feature movie |
| 31% | BOOK | 4 | What you find in a library, or a word which can be used at the start of 20a, 25a, 35a, 48a, 55a, 31d, and 45d |
| 31% | MINNIE | 6 | ___ Mouse, mouse who sports a pink polka-dotted dress and can be found in the 1950 short film "Crazy Over Daisy" |
| 30% | ATEFORTWO | 9 | Dined with a bun in the oven, or what can be found in 17-, 26-, 40-, and 51-Across |
| 29% | AGE | 3 | *Birthday candle count...or a word that can be found at the end of 16a, 18a, 21a, 31a, 43a, 35d, and 40d |
| 29% | SIDESALAD | 9 | Dish that may accompany a main course, and what can be found at the start of 17-, 25-, 38-, or 53-Across? |
| 29% | THEMATRIX | 9 | A 1999 Sci-Fi film in which Keanu Reeves - whose birthday it is today - portrays the main character, named "Neo": 2 wds. |
| 28% | MARCHMADNESS | 12 | Annual college basketball tourney, rounds of which can be found in the circled squares at their appropriate numbers |
| 28% | UNDERASPELL | 11 | Hypnotized ... and where a synonymous nine-letter word can be found in the grid |
| 28% | KEYS | 4 | PC things, which can be found at the starts of 14-, 22-, 37-, 46- and 61-Across |
| 28% | CELERY | 6 | Popular stalk which is the main ingredient in the dish ants on a log, and is packed with 95% water |
| 28% | MICKEY | 6 | ___ Mouse, mouse who sports red shorts and can be found in the 1940 musical film "Fantasia" |
| 28% | DEUCESWILD | 10 | Card game declaration, and a hint to what can be found in the four other longest answers |
| 28% | BOGGLE | 6 | Flummox ... or a classic word game represented by the central grid of shaded squares, in which 15-, 17- and 55-Across can be found |
| 27% | SUMMER | 6 | Vacation season ... and a time during which you can build a playlist with the songs at 27a, 35a, 43a, 55a, 25d, and 37d |
| 27% | BLUEJEANS | 9 | Casual pants (brands of which can be found at the starts of 16-Across, 27-Across, and 35-Across) (2 wds.) |
| 27% | 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. |
| 27% | CAT | 3 | "The ___ in the Hat," 2003 live-action film starring Mike Myers that is based on Dr. Seuss's cartoon feline |
| 27% | BACKPACK | 8 | Travel the world with one bag, and what can be found in this puzzle's circled letters? |
| 27% | MARGARITA | 9 | "It's National ___ Day! A day to celebrate your favorite cocktail! Find ingredients to make this drink in the movies at 27a, 47a, 8d, and 30d" |
| 27% | LITTLE | 6 | Stuart ___, mouse who boasts a remote-controlled car and can be seen in the eponymous 1999 fantasy film |
| 26% | TAKEN | 5 | Movie in which Neeson's character says "I will find you, and I will kill you" |
| 26% | THELIONKING | 11 | Animated film released in 1994 which was influenced by Shakespeare's "Hamlet" and tells the story of a character named Simba: 3 wds. |
| 26% | ELF | 3 | 2003 film in which the title character exclaims "Son of a nutcracker!" |
| 26% | FOURQUARTERS | 12 | Change for a dollar, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 26% | PIE | 3 | "American ___," teen film starring Jason Biggs ... and a traditional Thanksgiving dessert whose ingredients can be found in this puzzle |
| 26% | BLUE | 4 | Primary color whose shades can be found at 20a, 40a, 46a, 61a, 4d, and 51d |
| 26% | EVITA | 5 | Hit 1979 musical in which a character's mistress is one of the main roles |
| 26% | WILDFLOWERS | 11 | Colorful elements of a meadow, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues? |