| 100% | PRINCESS | 8 | Fezzik and Inigo were best mates in The __ Bride |
| 40% | ANDRE | 5 | This Giant was Fezzik in The Princess Bride |
| 40% | ANOTHERROUND | 12 | Best International Feature Oscar winner in 2021 ... and what's been added to the starred clues' answers |
| 40% | SERPENT | 7 | Speaker of the words "Ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil," in Genesis |
| 40% | SOAPS | 5 | Galen of Pergamon described these in the 2nd century and stated the best were Germanic with Gaulish ones second best |
| 40% | WHEREITSAT | 10 | Best place to be, slangily ... and, when divided in four parts, what the answers to starred clues are? |
| 39% | HOLEINONE | 9 | The best score one can get in golf, also called ace, and is a very rare occurrence: 3 wds. |
| 39% | LUGE | 4 | World champion downhill event where the best US finishes were second places by Myler and Kennedy in 1992 |
| 38% | DUEL | 4 | Westley and Inigo Montoya fought one in "The Princess Bride" |
| 38% | MATT | 4 | & 18D Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar nominee for Good Will Hunting and The Martian |
| 38% | INIGO | 5 | Friend of Westley and Fezzik, in "The Princess Bride" |
| 38% | INIGO | 5 | Companion of Westley and Fezzik in "The Princess Bride" |
| 38% | LASTOFUS | 8 | In the videogame, Joel and Ellie are among The ___ |
| 37% | EVIL | 4 | "Midnight in the Garden of Good and ___" |
| 37% | LADY | 4 | With 34-Across, nominee for the Best Actress and Best Original Song Oscars for her work in "A Star Is Born" |
| 37% | NIGHTLIVE | 9 | "Saturday ___," American live variety show that is regarded as one of the best, and is in its 43rd season: 2 wds. |
| 37% | READERSDIGEST | 13 | General-interest family magazine that has been in publication since 1920, and was the best-selling magazine till 2009: 2 wds. |
| 37% | LANDONDONOVAN | 13 | U.S. soccer player who holds multiple records in the Major League Soccer, and was Best Young Player in the 2002 FIFA World Cup: 2 wds. |
| 37% | LOPE | 4 | This should be good in the long run |
| 37% | LAURYNHILL | 10 | "Everything Is Everything" singer who received the Grammys for both Album of the Year and Best New Artist in 1999: 2 wds. |
| 37% | DUMB | 4 | In the movie, Lloyd is this and Harry is more so |
| 37% | YOUNG | 5 | In the saying and song, only the good die this way |
| 36% | COMMA | 5 | Character in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? |
| 36% | ALI | 3 | He was bested in the "Fight of the Century" |
| 36% | TUX | 3 | The best man may be in it |
| 36% | DAMON | 5 | Matt —, Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar-nominee for Good Will Hunting and The Martian |
| 36% | HEALTHY | 7 | Being in good physical and mental condition |
| 36% | FEARS | 5 | Being in the dark, maybe, and others |
| 36% | BEACHBOYS | 9 | The ___, band behind "Good Vibrations" which was formed in 1961 and is still active: 2 wds. |
| 36% | RULE | 4 | Be the best, in slang |