| 100% | PLASTICMAN | 10 | DC Universe hero whose superpower was the basis of that of Marvel’s Mr. Fantastic |
| 37% | JULES | 5 | With 141-Down, author whose work is the basis of this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | MERIMEE | 7 | Writer whose novella "Carmen" is the basis of Bizet's opera |
| 35% | CONFUCIUS | 9 | Chinese philosopher whose writings are the basis of a religion |
| 35% | ABBA | 4 | Group whose music is the basis of the "Mamma Mia!" movies |
| 35% | ABBA | 4 | Band whose songs were the basis of the musical "Mamma Mia!" |
| 35% | APRICOTS | 8 | Fruits that are the basis of Marillenschnaps |
| 35% | FOUR | 4 | "Fantastic ___," superhero movie that features the character Sue Storm, whose superpower is invisibility |
| 34% | TEAK | 4 | Plant whose name becomes that of a meat product when an s is added to the beginning |
| 34% | DIANAGABALDON | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Outlander" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 34% | KATHYREICHS | 11 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Bones" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 34% | ABBA | 4 | Pop group whose music was the basis of a hit 2001 Broadway musical |
| 34% | CHICKPEAS | 9 | Round yellow legumes that are the basis of hummus |
| 34% | RINGO | 5 | Johnny —, American outlaw whose life was the basis of the 1950 film The Gunfighter |
| 34% | TESSGERRITSEN | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Rizzoli & Isles" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 34% | PYGMALION | 9 | Shaw play that is the basis of My Fair Lady |
| 34% | GIN | 3 | Spirit that is the basis of a Tom Collins cocktail |
| 33% | EMMA | 4 | Jane Austen novel that was the basis of the movie "Clueless" |
| 33% | OPAL | 4 | Birthstone whose first letter is the same as that of its month |
| 32% | ORR | 3 | Mary whose short story "The Wisdom of Eve" was the basis for 1950's "All About Eve" |
| 32% | DEO | 3 | The DC Universe US govt. agcy. that monitors those with superpowers |
| 31% | THOMASHARRIS | 12 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "The Silence of the Lambs": 2 wds. |
| 31% | OTISWILLIAMS | 12 | Only surviving original member of 34-Across, whose memoir is the basis for 19-Across: 2 wds. |
| 31% | REED | 4 | ___ Richards, fictional scientist from Marvel Comics who is the leader of the Fantastic Four |
| 31% | NORI | 4 | Food whose name spelled backwards is the name of a nutrient that it contains |
| 31% | CORINTH | 7 | Greek city that was the addressee of two of Paul's epistles |
| 31% | IRON | 4 | ___ Man, the Marvel hero whose real name is Tony Stark |
| 31% | FLIGHT | 6 | Superpower common to Marvel's Carol Danvers and DC's Shazam that allows them to soar through the skies |
| 30% | OLIVERREED | 10 | Actor whose first name is the title of a Best Picture he co-starred in, and whose last name is that film's director |
| 30% | UNDERLIE | 8 | Be the basis of |