| 100% | JULES | 5 | With 49-Across, author of the novel suggested by this puzzle's theme; the movie debuted 10/17/1956 |
| 47% | BRAD | 4 | With 59-Down, star of the work revealed by the first letters of the Across clues, which hint at this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | COUNTDOWNIN | 11 | With 81-Down, tradition suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | JULES | 5 | With 141-Down, author whose work is the basis of this puzzle's theme |
| 41% | TUNNEL | 6 | With 86-Across, fixation problem suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 41% | WEATHERBALLOONS | 15 | Carriers of meteorological instruments ... as suggested by this puzzle's theme? |
| 40% | GREAT | 5 | With 27-, 49- and 66-Across, phrase applicable to five innovations in this puzzle (as suggested by the starred clues) |
| 40% | CONNECTTHEDOTS | 14 | Kind of puzzle suggested by this crossword's theme |
| 39% | CROSS | 5 | With 36-Down, intersection ... as suggested by the circled letters in the middle of this puzzle? |
| 39% | DOUBLEDOUBLE | 12 | Basketball feat suggested by this puzzle's pairs of theme answers, informally |
| 39% | ITSRAINING | 10 | With 63-Across, the opening lines to a nursery rhyme suggested by this puzzle's circled letters |
| 38% | NEWYEARSEVE | 11 | Time to sing the tune suggested by the starts of 10 long answers in this puzzle |
| 38% | NATURAL | 7 | With 39-Across, subject of study represented literally by the words spelled out by this puzzle's circled letters |
| 37% | HIDDEN | 6 | With 16-Across, the theme of this puzzle |
| 37% | POLITICAL | 9 | With 57-Across, the theme of this puzzle |
| 37% | DECLARATION | 11 | With 114-Across, source of the phrase formed by the ends of eight answers in this puzzle |
| 37% | DRONE | 5 | Bee formed by the letters heard at the starts of this puzzle's theme answers |
| 37% | OCTAGON | 7 | Shape of 96-Across suggested by this puzzle's special squares |
| 37% | STATE | 5 | With 54-Across, the theme of this puzzle [hint: New Hampshire] |
| 36% | NORTH | 5 | Direction suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | MIXEDDOUBLES | 12 | Game suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | AUSTRALIA | 9 | Locale suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | THOMASNAST | 10 | Cartoonist suggested by this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | MARGARET | 8 | With 40-Across, author of the 1936 novel "Gone With the Wind," which was made into a Best Picture-winning movie |
| 36% | CHEMICALBONDING | 15 | Attraction suggested by this puzzle's theme answers |
| 36% | SOMECELEBRITIESYOUCAN | 21 | With 115 Across, theme of this puzzle |
| 36% | CHILDSTOYS | 10 | Bearers of a phrase suggested by saying the starts of 17-, 24-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 36% | JOHNLECARREBOOK | 15 | Theme of this puzzle, as hinted at by 17-, 23-, 45- and 59-Across |
| 36% | SECRET | 6 | With 74-Across, voting system that affords anonymity ... or the theme of this puzzle? |
| 35% | BEGINNERSPANISH | 15 | Introductory foreign language class suggested by this puzzle's theme |