| 100% | APU | 3 | “Much ___ About Nothing” (“The Simpsons” episode title in which a character’s name replaces 43-Across) |
| 45% | PINOCCHIO | 9 | 1940 animated film in which the title character is swallowed by a whale named Monstro |
| 40% | APU | 3 | "Much ___ About Something" ("Simpsons" episode named for a supporting character) |
| 39% | ELF | 3 | 2003 film in which the title character exclaims "Son of a nutcracker!" |
| 39% | EVITA | 5 | Hit 1979 musical in which a character's mistress is one of the main roles |
| 39% | APU | 3 | "Much ___ About Nothing" ("The Simpsons" episode) |
| 39% | APU | 3 | "Much __ About Nothing": "The Simpsons" episode |
| 38% | FLEABAG | 7 | 2019 Emmy-winning show in which the title character is never referred to by her name |
| 37% | NAN | 3 | River in Thailand which is also the name of a "Game of Thrones" character |
| 35% | EBWHITE | 7 | Author whose last name's first letter, followed by the two initials that precede his last name, form a word in one of his most famous titles |
| 35% | PTA | 3 | Org. in which Marge becomes involved in a classic 1995 episode of "The Simpsons" |
| 35% | SONJASOHN | 9 | "The Wire" actress who plays Nancy, the title boxer's mother, in a 2023 biopic about 40-Across (2 wds.) |
| 35% | MACBETH | 7 | Scottish king who's the title character in a Shakespeare tragedy |
| 35% | MIAMI | 5 | "Move to ___," hit song by Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias which has the name of a Florida city in its title |
| 35% | IRIS | 4 | 2001 biopic about writer Murdoch, in which 15-Across played the title role (and received a Best Actress nomination) |
| 34% | HOMER | 5 | The Simpsons character who bets against Lisa in a crossword tournament |
| 34% | MESSINA | 7 | City in which Much Ado About Nothing is set |
| 34% | LULU | 4 | Opera in which Jack the Ripper is a character |
| 34% | OURTOWN | 7 | Play in which the Stage Manager is a character |
| 34% | TEEN | 4 | Many a character in the musical "Be More Chill" |
| 34% | TARBABY | 7 | 1981 novel by 43-Across about a love affair that begins in the Caribbean (2 wds.) |
| 33% | MEHRANKARIMI | 12 | Actor Tom Hanks's character in 2004 comedy-drama "The Terminal" which was inspired by a real-life person named ___ Nasseri: 2 wds. |
| 33% | WORLDSERIESMVP | 14 | Award named after 54-Across, which debuted a year after 54-Across's famous "basket catch" in the 1954 Fall Classic |
| 33% | MILHOUSE | 8 | "The Simpsons" character named for a U.S. president |
| 33% | DOCTORWHO | 9 | BBC sci-fi series in which 31-Across plays the 10th and 14th incarnations of the title character: 2 wds. |
| 33% | JERRYMAGUIRE | 12 | 1996 film in which Renée Zellweger plays a single mom who falls for Tom Cruise's title character: 2 wds. |
| 33% | SIMONSAYS | 9 | Playground game with a boy's name in the title |
| 33% | TORI | 4 | Character in "Victorious" whose name appears in the title |
| 33% | LORAX | 5 | Title character in a Dr. Seuss book about environmentalism |
| 33% | BLACK | 5 | With 41- and 43-Across, cop cruiser ... or a description of the five animals named in this puzzle |