| 100% | LEATHERFACE | 11 | The antagonist in "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", serial killer who uses a chainsaw in murder and cannibalism |
| 41% | JASONVOORHEES | 13 | The antagonist in "Friday the 13th", serial killer who wears the iconic hockey goalie mask: 2 wds. |
| 41% | DEXTER | 6 | Crime drama TV series named after the protagonist who is a forensic technician in the day and vigilante serial killer at night |
| 39% | LEATHERFACE | 11 | "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" villain who wears a crudely sewn mask |
| 38% | ALAMO | 5 | The —, mission in San Antonio, Texas; site of a siege and massacre in 1836 |
| 37% | LEATHERFACE | 11 | Villain who appears in eight "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" films |
| 35% | CHIP | 4 | Boy who became a teacup in "Beauty and the Beast" |
| 35% | FREDDYKRUEGER | 13 | Villain in "The Nightmare on Elm Street" series, burnt serial killer who could murder people in their dreams: 2 wds. |
| 34% | HERO | 4 | *Person who saves the day... and a word you may use to describe those being celebrated in this puzzle |
| 33% | SARA | 4 | Bareilles who played a baker in Waitress and a baker's wife in Into the Woods |
| 33% | MOUSE | 5 | The ___ King, antagonist who leads a rodent army in 11a |
| 33% | BARTENDER | 9 | "Happy ___ Day!" Let's celebrate the person who mixes cocktails like a pro and would use the words in 24a, 41a, 7d, 23d, 27d, and 36d |
| 33% | DANAI | 5 | Gurira who played a warrior in both Black Panther and The Walking Dead |
| 32% | VINCEVAUGHN | 11 | "Dodgeball" and "The Internship" actor who plays a killer who changes bodies with Millie in "Freaky" (2 wds.) |
| 32% | GHOSTFACE | 9 | Antagonist with a mask in the "Scream" movies who made everyone scream |
| 32% | NANETTEFABRAY | 13 | Actress and singer (1920-2018) who won a Tony in 1949 and three Emmys in the 1950s: 2 wds. |
| 32% | TONALITY | 8 | The shading and hues used in a painting |
| 32% | ANDIE | 5 | Actress MacDowell who has a cameo in the Hulu series "Four Weddings and a Funeral" |
| 32% | YERBA | 5 | ___ mate, traditionally consumed as a drink in Paraguay and originally used by the Guaraní people |
| 32% | GORES | 5 | Al and Tipper who used Air Force Two in the 1990s |
| 32% | LESLIENIELSEN | 13 | "Airplane!" actor who played a vampire in the comedy "Dracula: Dead and Loving It": 2 wds. |
| 31% | FOSSE | 5 | Director Bob who won a Tony, Oscar and Emmy all in the same year |
| 31% | CAIN | 4 | Dean who played Detective James Wood in "Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer" (2018) |
| 31% | BETOOROURKE | 11 | Texas congressman who made a much-watched run for the Senate in 2018: 2 wds. |
| 31% | LUPITA | 6 | ___ Nyong'o, actress who played the protagonist and antagonist in the movie "Us" |
| 31% | DARROW | 6 | Clarence —, lawyer who defended Leopold and Loeb in a 1924 Chicago murder trial |
| 31% | SAND | 4 | Makeup of the pit used in a long jump track and field event |
| 31% | BURNETT | 7 | Comedian Carol who had a namesake variety show in the sixties and seventies |
| 31% | JOSHUA | 6 | Actor Henry who played Gaston in "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" |
| 31% | FLAYER | 6 | The Mind ___, spider-like antagonist in "Stranger Things" who controlled the Upside Down using psychic links |