| 100% | ANTS | 4 | “What is this? A center for ___?” (Zoolander’s reaction to a scale model, in “Zoolander”) |
| 63% | ANTS | 4 | "What is this? A center for ___?!" (line from Derek Zoolander when he thought a scale model of an educational center showed its actual size) |
| 48% | SIDEHUSTLE | 10 | Extra job, and a hint to what each starred answer is for many (and literally is, in this puzzle) |
| 47% | ELEVEN | 6 | On a scale of 1 to 10, what one amp in "This Is Spinal Tap" goes to |
| 46% | ACITYONAHILL | 12 | Metaphor for America's standing as a beacon of hope, and what can literally be found four times in this puzzle |
| 44% | FORTYNINERS | 11 | Old rush participants ... or a three-part hint to what can be found in this puzzle's grid or clues |
| 44% | NEON | 4 | Let's go to the 1980s! What will you see here? You will see a lot of this bright shade used for clothes |
| 44% | YOUREMISSINGOUT | 15 | "That's a lost opportunity," and what can be said to the writer of four clues in this puzzle |
| 43% | BOX | 3 | Container (and, in a way, what you will find outlined by this year's clues related to the mega-meta) |
| 43% | DROPMEALINE | 11 | "Don't be a stranger!" ... or what you have to do three times in this puzzle |
| 43% | RIPPEDABS | 9 | Many a gymgoer's goal … or what the starred clues in this puzzle must have for their answers to make sense? |
| 43% | JAN | 3 | New Year month to send a wish that is highlighted in this puzzle, for short |
| 42% | GREATWALL | 9 | Landmark that, in a way, is a border feature of this puzzle and a hint to what's missing from 10 answers |
| 42% | BEAST | 5 | "That was a ___!" (solver's reaction to finishing this puzzle, maybe) |
| 42% | DOWNUNDER | 9 | Nickname for 18-Across, and a hint to how four answers in this puzzle are to be entered |
| 41% | ACROSSTHEPOND | 13 | In Britain, to Americans ... or a hint to what separates this puzzle's circled words |
| 41% | WORKAROUNDS | 11 | Ways to sidestep obstacles, and what are found in this puzzle's circles |
| 40% | ANYTAKERS | 9 | "Who's interested?" ... or, phonetically, what four answers in this puzzle are vis-à-vis the answers next to them |
| 40% | SOAPBUBBLES | 11 | Products of a child's wand, and what are literally rising in this puzzle's circles |
| 40% | DEADBEAT | 8 | What "D Is for," in a book title in Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone detective series |
| 40% | USA | 3 | This nation's athlete is the first figure skater to land eight quads in a competition |
| 40% | SYNC | 4 | Good thing for a film's audio and video to be in |
| 40% | TWISTEDMIND | 11 | Trait for an evil genius ... and a hint to what can literally be found in 17-, 23-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 40% | EXCHANGINGRINGS | 15 | Sharing in a symbol of commitment … or what four rows in this puzzle are doing to form new phrases |
| 39% | PARTINGSHOT | 11 | End of a testy exchange, and what can be found four times in this puzzle, thanks to four black squares |
| 39% | LIT | 3 | Making a comeback is this "illuminated" slangy term for something exciting that was popular in the 1910's |
| 39% | OBEY | 4 | What a well-trained dog will do in response to its owner's commands |
| 39% | IMOLD | 5 | Reaction to hearing what the kids are doing these days |
| 39% | SEA | 3 | Place for a FISH (which is a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| 39% | TEN | 3 | "Let's try 'The Number ___' for $200. In this category, the correct response to every question is ___. When I stop talking, just say ___." (line in a "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketch on SNL) |