| 100% | ACADEMY | 7 | Organization that honored those referenced in the 25-/36-Across, with "the" |
| 48% | CHINESE | 7 | With 27- and 36-Across, object that floated over the US in early 2023 |
| 44% | AGES | 4 | With 36-Across, in the distant past |
| 44% | COG | 3 | ___ in the machine, phrase associated with machines that means "small part of a large organization" |
| 41% | RUG | 3 | Cloth that may be laid in the scene depicted in 36-Across |
| 41% | BUBBLE | 6 | *Inflated sphere that floats in the air and pops with the lightest touch |
| 40% | THE | 3 | With 35- and 36-Across, second-largest galaxy in the Local Group |
| 40% | PLACETHEMINTHECORNERS | 21 | What to do with the items referenced in 41-Across |
| 40% | ABA | 3 | Org. that merged with the 41-Across in the 1970s |
| 40% | MONKEES | 7 | Group that starred in the 1968 film "Head," with "the" |
| 40% | BESTDISCO | 9 | With 36-Across, Grammy category that was only awarded in 1980 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | START | 5 | All the clues in this puzzle do this with 36-Across |
| 39% | THEEAGLES | 9 | Rock band founded by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon, and Randy Meisner that had hits in the 1970s with 15-Across, 28-Across, and 36-Across (2 wds.) |
| 39% | CIA | 3 | Organization that chases Jason Bourne, in the film franchise: Abbr. |
| 39% | SOPHIE | 6 | With 40-Across, "Game of Thrones" actress whose family adopted the dog that played her direwolf in the series |
| 39% | ALAN | 4 | With 16-Across, actor who was honored with the SAG Life Achievement Award in 2019 |
| 39% | TRIPLE | 6 | With 36-Across, statistical feat that typically involves the number of points, rebounds, and assists |
| 39% | IOLANI | 6 | With 36-Across, only official residence of a reigning monarch now in the United States |
| 39% | EBB | 3 | With 15-Across, 1953 song that was a hit for the Righteous Brothers in 1965 |
| 39% | THETORTURED | 11 | With 35-Across, 2024 album that led to a new era in the Eras Tour |
| 38% | JOHNNY | 6 | With 36-Across, "Babes in Arms" tune that's apt for this puzzle |
| 38% | STEPH | 5 | With 36-Across, Warriors phenomenon who was the unanimous league MVP in 2016 |
| 38% | JASON | 5 | With 36-Across, Honolulu-born actor who played the title role in "Aquaman" |
| 38% | SINKHOLES | 9 | Craters that open in the ground with no explanation |
| 38% | CONKERS | 7 | Kids' game in the UK that rhymes with "bonkers" |
| 38% | MONKEES | 7 | Band that originated in a 1960s sitcom, with The |
| 38% | NFL | 3 | Organization whose forerunner was founded in 1920 with 15-Across, the sport's biggest star, as its president |
| 38% | NAOMI | 5 | With 36-Across, Japanese tennis player who defeated Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final |
| 38% | PATRICK | 7 | With 32-Across, "Made of Honor" actor who played JFK in the miniseries "JFK: Reckless Youth" |
| 38% | SUPER | 5 | With 19-Across, series of arcade games that requires saving the Princess in the Mushroom Kingdom |