| 100% | OREOS | 5 | Their name has the "re" of "cream" and the two o's from "chocolate" |
| 40% | DREAM | 5 | "___ of You," song by K-pop's CHUNG HA and R3HAB from the album "Querencia" |
| 40% | SKYWALKER | 9 | The last name of Luke and Anakin from Star Wars |
| 40% | ALTARPIECES | 11 | Rubens’s “Assumption of the Virgin” and “Descent from the Cross,” for two |
| 39% | POMPEO | 6 | Ellen ___, actress from "Grey's Anatomy" who has directed two episodes of the series |
| 39% | IGGYAZALEA | 10 | "Fancy" singer who is one of only two music acts to have their first two hit singles rank #1 and #2 simultaneously on the U.S. "Billboard" Hot 100 chart (2 wds.) |
| 39% | LOU | 3 | First name of Costello, from the comedy duo Abbott and Costello |
| 38% | ELSA | 4 | Baby name that had popularity bumps after the releases of "Frozen" and "Frozen II" |
| 38% | ANSEL | 5 | Name on the cover of "Yosemite and the High Sierra" |
| 38% | LITERATE | 8 | Having the knowledge of reading and writing |
| 37% | GAZEBO | 6 | Where Maria and the Captain have their first kiss in "The Sound of Music" |
| 37% | DEMIMOORE | 9 | Actress whose full name can be made from the letters of DO RE MI |
| 37% | ESTE | 4 | Singing sister of Alana and Danielle, who all have the last name 15-Across |
| 37% | DEEN | 4 | Last name of the chef whose TV cooking shows have included "Paula's Party" and "Paula's Best Dishes" |
| 37% | IAMSAM | 6 | 2001 drama which uses The Beatles' music and which has several characters whose names come from the band's songs: 3 wds. |
| 37% | MARTINA | 7 | First name of two Wimbledon winners in the 1980s and '90s |
| 37% | SERGEI | 6 | Name on the cover of ''Peter and the Wolf'' |
| 37% | ROCKOPERAS | 10 | “The Wall” and “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,” for two |
| 37% | BLACK | 5 | "Man in ___," 1971 song written and recorded by Johnny Cash from album of the same name |
| 36% | NUDE | 4 | Second single from Radiohead's album in 18a, that had a different title originally and was supposed to be part of the album "OK Computer" |
| 36% | LAURIE | 6 | Hugh ___, actor from "House" who has directed two episodes of the series |
| 36% | THEBIGDIPPER | 12 | Current name for the arrangement of the O's in this puzzle |
| 36% | THEGREATWAGON | 13 | Old name for the arrangement of the O's in this puzzle |
| 36% | THESEVENOXEN | 12 | Old name for the arrangement of the O's in this puzzle |
| 36% | APRIL | 5 | ___ Ludgate, character from "Parks and Recreation" who shares her name with the month after March and has a perfect poker face |
| 36% | CERSEI | 6 | I am Jaime's twin sister and two of my children have sat on the Iron Throne in "Game of Thrones" |
| 36% | SUE | 3 | Name on the cover of ''Kinsey and Me'' |
| 36% | ROSES | 5 | "Days of Wine and ___," song from the 1962 film of the same name composed by Henry Mancini |
| 36% | JERRY | 5 | First name for both, actor Lewis and his character Langford from the movie "The King of Comedy" |
| 36% | DYLANDREILING | 13 | 19-Across outfielder who had a .341 season batting average and was named MVP of the 2024 Men's College World Series (2 wds.) |