| 100% | SANTA | 5 | Legendary figure whose annual journey is “tracked” by NORAD |
| 38% | BUDDHA | 6 | Religious figure whose teachings are followed by about 500 million Asians |
| 36% | ICARUS | 6 | Mythological figure whose ill-fated trajectory is suggested by 19-, 34-, 41- and 56-Across |
| 33% | ONRADAR | 7 | Being tracked by air traffic control, say (2 wds.) |
| 33% | NEGATIVENUMBERS | 15 | Figures whose squares are positive |
| 33% | LAND | 4 | "Promised ___," 1975 album by Elvis Presley whose title track was featured in the film "Men in Black" |
| 31% | CPA | 3 | Figure whose job is working with figures, briefly |
| 31% | SANTA | 5 | Figure whose Canadian postal code is H0H 0H0 |
| 31% | {BUD}DHA | 8 | Figure whose reincarnations are documented in the Jātakas |
| 31% | THESEEDSOFLOVE | 14 | 1989 studio album by 42-Across whose opening track is the Top 40 hit single "Woman in Chains" (4 wds.) |
| 31% | IRONMAIDEN | 10 | Legendary heavy metal band that is fronted by vocalist Bruce Dickinson, whose birthday it is today: 2 wds. |
| 31% | CUBE | 4 | Three-dimensional figure whose faces are squares |
| 30% | ALI | 3 | Legendary boxer portrayed by Will Smith |
| 30% | TASTER | 6 | Court figure whose job is to detect 36-Across |
| 30% | NOAH | 4 | Biblical figure whose sons were Ham, Shem, and Japheth |
| 30% | EMOTICON | 8 | Figure whose colon might be part of his face? |
| 29% | NSA | 3 | Org. whose annual budget is classified |
| 29% | CIA | 3 | Org. whose annual budget is classified |
| 29% | ABSALOM | 7 | Biblical figure whose name is repeated in a Faulkner title |
| 29% | SOLOMON | 7 | Legendary King whose mines were full or riches |
| 29% | ACPT | 4 | Annual competition hosted by Will Shortz, for short |
| 29% | NSA | 3 | Org. whose annual budget is classified information |
| 28% | CORIANDER | 9 | Annual herb whose leaves are used in flavouring curry |
| 28% | MRCLEAN | 7 | Advertising figure whose first name is Veritably |
| 28% | LIKEARGIN | 9 | Album whose first track was "Material Girl" |
| 28% | SUPERFLY | 8 | Film whose soundtrack was by Curtis Mayfield |
| 28% | POE | 3 | Literary figure whose name is a letter short of something he wrote |
| 28% | HYMN | 4 | "January ___," 2011 track by the Decemberists whose title means a religious song |
| 28% | NEDLUDD | 7 | Legendary textile worker whose name is now associated with technophobes |
| 28% | STRIPSHOW | 9 | Performance by one whose career is taking off |