| 100% | DENNISLEHANE | 12 | Author of the 2001 novel "Mystic River" that was made into a 2003 Sean Penn film: 2 wds. |
| 51% | ALICEWALKER | 11 | Author of the 1982 novel "The Color Purple," which was made into a 1985 movie: 2 wds. |
| 49% | DAVINCI | 7 | "The ___ Code," 2003 novel by Dan Brown that was made into a film: 2 wds. |
| 47% | SHUTTERISLAND | 13 | 2003 18-Across novel about a mental hospital that was made into a 2010 Leonardo DiCaprio film: 2 wds. |
| 46% | CORMACMCCARTHY | 14 | Author of the 2005 novel "No Country for Old Men," which was made into a Best Picture-winning movie: 2 wds. |
| 43% | PAULAHAWKINS | 12 | Author of "The Girl on the Train," a novel adapted into a film starring Emily Blunt (2 wds.) |
| 41% | DAVIDMITCHELL | 13 | Author of the novel that was adapted into the 2012 film 7-/49-Across |
| 40% | MYSTICRIVER | 11 | Dennis Lehane novel made into a film starring Sean Penn and Tim Robbins (2 wds.) |
| 40% | STRIPTEASE | 10 | Novel by 44-Across that was made into a movie starring Demi Moore: 2 wds. |
| 38% | SOLOMONNORTHUP | 14 | Author of the 1853 memoir "Twelve Years a Slave," which was made into a Best Picture-winning movie: 2 wds. |
| 38% | APAINTEDHOUSE | 13 | Novel by John Grisham which was made into a television film starring Scott Glenn in 2003: 3 wds. |
| 38% | OLDMAN | 6 | *"The ___ and the Sea," 1952 novel by Ernest Hemingway that was adapted into a 1958 film: 2 wds. |
| 37% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author of "Gone Girl," a novel adapted into a film starring Rosamund Pike (2 wds.) |
| 37% | LADYMARMALADE | 13 | Song from the 2001 film "Moulin Rouge!" that was a #1 hit for Pink, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Mya: 2 wds. |
| 37% | LIANEMORIARTY | 13 | Author of the novel "Big Little Lies" which was adapted into an Emmy-winning TV series: 2 wds. |
| 37% | THEDRY | 6 | Novel by Australian author Jane Harper that was adapted into a movie starring Eric Bana: 2 wds. |
| 36% | NATIVESON | 9 | Best-selling 1940 novel that was adapted into a film, with its author playing the protagonist, in 1951 |
| 36% | IANMCEWAN | 9 | British author of the novel upon which 17-Across is based: 2 wds. |
| 36% | MARGARET | 8 | With 40-Across, author of the 1936 novel "Gone With the Wind," which was made into a Best Picture-winning movie |
| 36% | CARLITOSWAY | 11 | 1993 Al Pacino/Sean Penn film about an ex-con who falls back into a life of crime: 2 wds. |
| 36% | LAURALIPPMAN | 12 | Author of the 2019 novel "Lady in the Lake," which was adapted into an Apple TV+ miniseries starring 19-Across and 34-Across (2 wds.) |
| 36% | TOMWOLFE | 8 | Author of the 1979 book about space flight that 34-Across is based on: 2 wds. |
| 35% | JAYASHER | 8 | Author whose book "Thirteen Reasons Why" was adapted into a Netflix show of the same name: 2 wds. |
| 35% | GONEBABYGONE | 12 | 1998 18-Across novel about a missing woman that was made into a 2007 Ben Affleck film: 3 wds. |
| 35% | JRRTOLKIEN | 10 | Author of "The Lord of the Rings" which was later adapted into a movie: 4 wds. |
| 35% | BEES | 4 | "The Secret Life of ___," 2001 Sue Monk Kidd novel that was adapted into a 2008 film starring Queen Latifah |
| 35% | JACKLONDON | 10 | Author of the 1903 novel, "The Call of the Wild," on which the 2020 movie is based: 2 wds. |
| 35% | PETERBENCHLEY | 13 | Author of "Jaws" who cameoed as a reporter in the 1975 film adaptation: 2 wds. |
| 34% | IDO | 3 | Promise that may be made in front of a justice of the peace (2 wds.) |
| 34% | ANNEMURRAY | 10 | "You Needed Me" singer who was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1984: 2 wds. |