| 100% | HENRYVI | 7 | Three-part Shakespeare play about a king of England (2 wds.) |
| 60% | HENRYV | 6 | Shakespearean history play about a king of England |
| 55% | KINGLEAR | 8 | Shakespeare play about an old ruler with three daughters: 2 wds. |
| 49% | SALEMSLOT | 9 | Stephen King novel about a town of vampires: 2 wds. |
| 49% | HAMLET | 6 | Shakespeare play about a mopey prince of Denmark |
| 46% | THECOMPANY | 10 | Three-part series about the activities of the CIA during the Cold War in which Chris O'Donnell plays Jack McAuliffe: 2 wds. |
| 46% | MRSDALLOWAY | 11 | Virginia Woolf's novel about a day in the life of a woman in England post World War I: 2 wds. |
| 45% | ACTI | 4 | Opening part of a play: 2 wds. |
| 45% | ACTI | 4 | First part of a play: 2 wds. |
| 45% | THESTAND | 8 | Stephen King novel about a group of people who survive a worldwide pandemic: 2 wds. |
| 45% | ROMEOAND | 8 | With 36-Across, Shakespeare play about star-crossed lovers: 2 wds. |
| 44% | MACBETH | 7 | Shakespeare's play about a Scottish king |
| 44% | ACTI | 4 | Opening of a Shakespeare play (2 wds.) |
| 44% | ACTI | 4 | First part of a play (2 wds.) |
| 43% | ACTI | 4 | First part of a stage play (2 wds.) |
| 41% | OTHELLO | 7 | Shakespeare play about a jealous husband |
| 40% | MACBETH | 7 | Shakespeare play about a power-hungry Scottish nobleman |
| 40% | DEARPRUDENCE | 12 | Beatles song about a girl who is invited to "come out to play": 2 wds. |
| 40% | REDDAWN | 7 | 1984 Charlie Sheen/Patrick Swayze movie about a Russian invasion of the US: 2 wds. |
| 40% | ROUGHAGESKETCH | 14 | Part of a school play about nutrition? |
| 40% | ULTERIORMOTIVE | 14 | Part of a hidden agenda: 2 wds. |
| 39% | STARIN | 6 | "It takes a lot of talent to ___ such a movie" (play the lead part): 2 wds. |
| 39% | NAT | 3 | I played jazz and was a part of the King Cole Trio |
| 39% | CYMBELINE | 9 | Shakespearean play about a king's stolen sons |
| 39% | ACTIV | 5 | Penultimate part of a Shakespeare play |
| 39% | THEBRIGHTSWORD | 14 | Lev Grossman novel about a knight who arrives in Camelot after the death of King Arthur (3 wds.) |
| 39% | WONDERWHEEL | 11 | Movie about a Coney Island waitress who falls for a young lifeguard played by Justin Timberlake: 2 wds. |
| 38% | GALAXYQUEST | 11 | 1999 movie about a group of actors who fight real-life aliens: 2 wds. |
| 38% | THREEAMIGOS | 11 | 1986 movie about a group of actors who fight real-life banditos: 2 wds. |
| 37% | NYNY | 4 | Part of a Manhattan mailing address: 2 wds., abbr. |