| 100% | ALBERTEINSTEIN | 14 | Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist profiled by 54-Across in a biography subtitled "His Life and Universe" (2 wds.) |
| 52% | JENNIFERDOUDNA | 14 | Nobel Prize-winning biochemist profiled by 54-Across in a biography titled "The Code Breaker" (2 wds.) |
| 37% | SCHITTSCREEK | 12 | Canadian sitcom created by 26-Across and his son Daniel that won a record seven Emmys in 2020 (2 wds.) |
| 33% | CYYOUNGAWARD | 12 | Pitching prize won by 30-Across in 1997, 1999, and 2000: 3 wds. |
| 31% | STEPHENHAWKING | 14 | Real-life theoretical physicist portrayed by Eddie Redmayne in "The Theory of Everything": 2 wds. |
| 30% | HENRYANDRIBSY | 13 | One in a series of books by 46-Across about a boy and his dog: 3 wds. |
| 30% | GEORGEBAILEY | 12 | Character played by 29-Across in "It's a Wonderful Life" (2 wds.) |
| 29% | EMMYS | 5 | Prizes won by 4- and 16-Across (and their stars) in 2024 |
| 29% | MISHIMA | 7 | 1985 biopic directed and co-written by Paul Schrader subtitled A Life in Four Chapters |
| 29% | JAMESBOND | 9 | A spy for "MI6" known for his flair and Aston Martins, portrayed by Daniel Craig in the recent films: 2 wds. |
| 29% | PEACE | 5 | Nobel Prize won by Al Gore and Barack Obama |
| 29% | JOHNSTEINBECK | 13 | Nobel Prize-winning writer born February 27, 1902, who wrote 18-Across and 44-Across (2 wds.) |
| 28% | BERNARDSHAW | 11 | Irish playwright George ___ whose volume of work including "Man and Superman" won him a Nobel Prize in Literature: 2 wds. |
| 28% | BORISPASTERNAK | 14 | Nobel Prize-winning author of 19-Across: 2 wds. |
| 28% | NELSONMANDELA | 13 | Nobel Prize-winning political leader born in 1918 (2 wds.) |
| 28% | BARACK | 6 | "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" author who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 |
| 28% | CORKOCONNOR | 11 | Former small-town sheriff featured in a series of novels by William Kent Krueger, including "Iron Lake," 18-Across, and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 28% | COSMOKRAMER | 11 | Character played by Michael Richards in "Seinfeld", who is 32-Across's neighbor and is often called a "hipster doofus": 2 wds. |
| 28% | CANDIDA | 7 | Comedy play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1894 that revolves around the lives of a clergyman and his wife |
| 28% | PHYSICS | 7 | Nobel Prize in __; won by Marie Curie in 1903 |
| 28% | GLORIASTEINEM | 13 | Feminist journalist played by 15-Across and Alicia Vikander in a 2020 biopic based on the memoir "My Life on the Road" (2 wds.) |
| 27% | ARTHURASHKIN | 12 | American scientist who won one half of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on optical tweezers: 2 wds. |
| 27% | VMA | 3 | Prize won by Rihanna and One Direction in 2012: Abbr. |
| 27% | READERSDIGEST | 13 | General interest magazine co-founded by 14-Across and his wife Lila in 1922 (2 wds.) |
| 27% | GOODSHIP | 8 | With 44-Across, boat in a song by 29-Across: 2 wds. |
| 27% | SAULBELLOW | 10 | "Herzog" author and Nobel Prize winner who was honored with a 2024 US postage stamp: 2 wds. |
| 27% | JESSEPINKMAN | 12 | Character played by Aaron Paul in "Breaking Bad", who was a crystal meth dealer and worked with the character played by 30-Across: 2 wds. |
| 27% | SAULBELLOW | 10 | Nobel Prize-winning writer honored on a 2024 U.S. postage stamp (2 wds.) |
| 27% | LONESOMEDOVE | 12 | Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by 5-Down made into a TV miniseries starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones (2 wds.) |
| 27% | CAMPTIGER | 9 | Children's book by 52-Across and illustrator John Rocco that features a big cat in the woods (2 wds.) |