| 100% | HIDDENFIGURES | 13 | 2016 Best Picture nominee ... or a hint to the circled letters in 20-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 50% | SWITCHBLADE | 11 | Street weapon ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 50% | COVERTOPERATION | 15 | Secret military mission ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle? |
| 49% | BACKUPTHETRUCK | 14 | "Wait, what did you just say?," or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 49% | STILLIRISE | 10 | Classic Maya Angelou poem … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues and the circled letters, in two different ways |
| 48% | WHATSCRACKING | 13 | Slangy greeting … or a hint to the starts of 20-, 25- and 45-Across |
| 48% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 48% | FRENCHTWIST | 11 | Classic hairstyle ... or a hint to the puns in 17-, 25-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 48% | OPENANDSHUTCASE | 15 | Easy-to-resolve situation ... or a hint to the progression found in 20-, 23-, 43-, 46- and 58-Across |
| 47% | STRETCHTHETRUTH | 15 | Exaggerate ... or a hint to five nonconsecutive letters in 20-Across, 36-Across and 7-Down |
| 46% | FIELDOFDREAMS | 13 | 1989 Best Picture nominee ... with a hint to 20-, 24-/27- and 32-/37-Across |
| 46% | ONETWOTHREEKICK | 15 | Classic Xavier Cugat song ... or a hint to the invitation in the circled letters |
| 45% | TWISTANDSHOUT | 13 | 1964 Beatles hit, and a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 45% | YOUDONTSAY | 10 | "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters |
| 45% | ANDY | 4 | "Toy Story" boy ... or, with the circled letters, a hint to 20-, 39- and 53-Across |
| 44% | GOFIRST | 7 | Lead off ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | WRAPPINGPAPER | 13 | Holiday purchase ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | HOPPINGMAD | 10 | Really miffed … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | SLICED | 6 | With 57-Across, deli offering ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | MIXTAPE | 7 | Homemade music compilation ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | CLIMATECHANGE | 13 | Environmentalist's concern ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 44% | BLOWININTHEWIND | 15 | Bob Dylan song ... or a hint to the object found by connecting the four circled letters in a diamond |
| 44% | UPLOADS | 7 | Puts on a server, say ... or a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 44% | SETSSTRAIGHT | 12 | Disabuses of false notions … or a hint to the circled letters |
| 43% | PLANETARY | 9 | With 36-Down, astronomical rarity ... or a hint to the circled letters |
| 43% | JUSTBROWSING | 12 | Reply to a salesperson ... or a hint to the start of 19-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 43% | WESTERNMEDICINE | 15 | Allopathy ... or a hint to the beginnings of 16-, 25-, and 47-Across |
| 43% | ORCHESTRA | 9 | Musical group, or a hint to the ends of 20-, 37- and 52-Across |
| 43% | PLANTMANAGERS | 13 | Factory supervisors ... or a hint to the starts of 20-, 36- and 42-Across |
| 43% | MIXEDFEELINGS | 13 | Ambivalence ... or a hint to 20-, 25- and 41-Across |