| 100% | AHAB | 4 | Captain for Ishmael and Queequeg, in a Melville novel |
| 52% | AHAB | 4 | Ishmael and Queequeg's captain, in fiction |
| 50% | AHAB | 4 | Obsessed captain in a Melville novel |
| 40% | AHAB | 4 | Captain in a classic novel |
| 39% | AHAB | 4 | Crazed whaler in a Herman Melville novel |
| 39% | AHAB | 4 | Deranged whaler in a Herman Melville novel |
| 38% | AHAB | 4 | Single-minded whaler in a Herman Melville novel |
| 38% | NEMO | 4 | Captain in a Jules Verne novel |
| 38% | SETTING | 7 | Place and time in a novel |
| 38% | GARDEN | 6 | Area in a yard for growing fruits and vegetables |
| 38% | SHEEPTHRILLS | 12 | Grazing in a meadow and jumping fences, for two? |
| 37% | PLAYROOM | 8 | Place in a house for children's toys and games |
| 37% | MANCAVE | 7 | Space in a home meant for dad and the boys |
| 37% | HANGTEN | 7 | Surf, in a way, and an appropriate title for this puzzle |
| 37% | PLAT | 4 | A rank in video games and short for platinum |
| 36% | MARYURE | 7 | Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar nominee for Sons and Lovers |
| 36% | LYNNREDGRAVE | 12 | Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar nominee for Gods and Monsters |
| 36% | LOLITA | 6 | Nickname for Dolores Haze, in a 1955 novel |
| 36% | FLICKA | 6 | Wild mustang in a Mary O'Hara novel and a Tim McGraw film |
| 36% | STEENBURGEN | 11 | Mary —, Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar winner for Melvin and Howard |
| 36% | DRESSLER | 8 | Marie —, Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar winner for Min and Bill |
| 36% | CARNEY | 6 | Art —, Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar winner for Harry and Tonto |
| 36% | MARIE | 5 | & 1D Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar winner for Min and Bill |
| 36% | URE | 3 | Mary —, Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar nominee for Sons and Lovers |
| 35% | TATA | 4 | Father, in Xhosa, and a nickname for 36-Across |
| 35% | PENN | 4 | Sean —, Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar winner for Milk and Mystic River |
| 35% | RICHARDSON | 10 | Miranda —, Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar nominee for biopic Tom and Viv |
| 35% | JANE | 4 | & 25A Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar winner for Klute and Coming Home |
| 35% | RIGHTLYSO | 9 | For good reason, and a hint to five answers in this puzzle |
| 35% | MVP | 3 | Award for A'ja Wilson and Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2020 |