| 100% | BURTREYNOLDS | 12 | Jackie Gleason (born 100 years ago this week) costarred with him in "Smokey and the Bandit": 2 wds. |
| 45% | RICHARDPRYOR | 12 | Jackie Gleason costarred with him in "The Toy" : 2 wds. |
| 35% | ORSONWELLES | 11 | Movie legend and "War of the Worlds" radio performer born 100 years ago today: 2 wds. |
| 34% | BURTREYNOLDS | 12 | "Smokey and the Bandit" actor who played filmmaker Jack Horner in "Boogie Nights": 2 wds. |
| 34% | BURTREYNOLDS | 12 | "Smokey and the Bandit" actor who turned down the role of Edward in 17-Across: 2 wds. |
| 34% | BURTREYNOLDS | 12 | "Smokey and the Bandit" star who drove a souped-up ambulance in "The Cannonball Run": 2 wds. |
| 31% | AUDREYMEADOWS | 13 | Jackie Gleason costarred with her on "The Honeymooners": 2 wds. |
| 30% | BURTREYNOLDS | 12 | "Smokey and the Bandit" star who died 9/6/18: 2 wds. |
| 30% | TIMOTHEE | 8 | With 39-Across, "Wonka" actor who costars with Zendaya in the 2021 and 2024 "Dune" films: 2 wds. |
| 30% | FRANKSINATRA | 12 | Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer/actor who was born 100 years ago today: 2 wds. |
| 29% | NICOLEKIDMAN | 12 | "Lion" actress who costars with Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley in 32-Across: 2 wds |
| 29% | LIMPBIZKIT | 10 | Band whose "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water" album went platinum in one week: 2 wds. |
| 29% | GAMEBOY | 7 | Hand-held Nintendo system released 30 years ago this month that launched with playable versions of 14-Across, 21-Across, 32-Across, 39-Across, and Super Mario Land (2 wds.) |
| 28% | BRUCEWILLIS | 11 | Actor who made his mark as an action hero 30 years ago with the hit "Die Hard": 2 wds. |
| 28% | ARTHURCCLARKE | 13 | "Rendezvous With Rama" author who won a Hugo and a Nebula in the same year, twice: 3 wds. |
| 28% | AUDREYMEADOWS | 13 | Comedic actress who costarred in a 1950s TV show with Jackie Gleason: 2 wds. |
| 28% | ANA | 3 | Movie released on January 3 this year with Andy García and Dafne Keen in the title role |
| 27% | ETSEQ | 5 | And the following, in footnotes: 2 wds. |
| 27% | JOSHOCONNOR | 11 | "The Crown" actor who costars with Zendaya in the 2024 tennis drama "Challengers": 2 wds. |
| 27% | CIRCLELETTERSTO | 15 | Step 2: With 43- and 55-Across, do this in the grid (scrambled or not) ... it works for almost anyone! |
| 26% | FAYEDUNAWAY | 11 | She was Bonnie in "Bonnie and Clyde," which was released 50 years ago: 2 wds. |
| 26% | JANEFONDA | 9 | Actress who's costarred with Robert Redford four times in the past 50 years, most recently in "Our Souls at Night": 2 wds. |
| 26% | GAMEOFTHRONES | 13 | Fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos which will air its final season this year (2019): 3 wds. |
| 26% | GENY | 4 | Offspring born in the 1980s and 1990s, informally (2 wds.) |
| 25% | JIMMYCARTER | 11 | He became the longest-lived US president this week: 2 wds. |
| 25% | DANIELKALUUYA | 13 | "Judas and the Black Messiah" actor starring in "Nope": 2 wds. |
| 25% | FLORIDA | 7 | Rapper and singer whose name comes from the state he was born in: 2 wds. |
| 25% | MERYLSTREEP | 11 | Legendary actress who costarred with Robert Redford in 19-Across: 2 wds. |
| 25% | CYNTHIANIXON | 12 | "Sex and the City" actress who plays Gwendolyn in "Ratched": 2 wds. |
| 25% | IMTHEONE | 8 | Song by DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a week in 2017 (3 wds.) |