| 100% | SANTA | 5 | With 8-Across, movie role for Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Billy Bob Thornton and Ed Asner |
| 47% | SANTA | 5 | With 3-Down, role for Tim Allen, Ed Asner and Leslie Nielsen |
| 33% | TOYSTORY | 8 | 1995 movie starring Tim Allen and Tom Hanks |
| 30% | LOUGRANT | 8 | Role for which Ed Asner won both comedy and drama Emmys |
| 30% | BADSANTA | 8 | 2003 movie starring Billy Bob Thornton and Bernie Mac |
| 30% | BADSANTA | 8 | 2003 Billy Bob Thornton title role ... and a hint to each set of puzzle circles |
| 29% | ARKANSANS | 9 | Bill Clinton and Billy Bob Thornton, for two |
| 29% | ARENA | 5 | With 8-Across, subgenre for Journey and Foreigner |
| 27% | HAN | 3 | Movie role for Harrison and Alden |
| 27% | GOLIATH | 7 | Amazon Prime series starring Billy Bob Thornton and William Hurt |
| 27% | BADNEWSBEARS | 12 | 2005 film comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton and Greg Kinnear |
| 26% | ALAMO | 5 | 2004 Billy Bob Thornton film, with "The" |
| 26% | JUICYPART | 9 | Movie role with range ... or what 17-, 24-, 39- and 51-Across each have? |
| 26% | GOD | 3 | Movie role for George Burns, Morgan Freeman, and Alanis Morissette |
| 26% | BADSANTA | 8 | 2003 Billy Bob Thornton holiday movie (2 wds.) |
| 26% | SINGER | 6 | "The Wedding ___," 1998 movie starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, with Billy Idol in a guest role |
| 26% | MAD | 3 | With 26-Across, 2015 role for Tom Hardy |
| 25% | FORRESTGUMP | 11 | Oscar-winning role for Tom Hanks |
| 25% | MRROGERS | 8 | TV host role for Tom Hanks |
| 25% | MRWOODCOCK | 10 | 2007 film comedy starring Billy Bob Thornton in the title role |
| 25% | FOOT | 4 | With 6- and 8-Across, entry that allows for later success |
| 25% | LOU | 3 | ___ Grant (former TV role for Ed Asner) |
| 25% | OTTO | 4 | Title role for Tom Hanks in 2022 |
| 25% | OTTO | 4 | 2022 title film role for Tom Hanks |
| 25% | BADSANTA | 8 | 2003 Billy Bob Thornton movie that takes place around Christmas: 2 wds. |
| 25% | MONSTERSBALL | 12 | 2001 film drama starring Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger and Halle Berry |
| 25% | YOULL | 5 | With 21 Across, 3 Down, 8 Down, and 20 Down, response to Ralphie's request for a BB gun in "A Christmas Story" |
| 24% | BATMAN | 6 | With 51-Across, roles for 17-, 38- and 62-Across |
| 24% | SLEEPLESS | 9 | With 45-Across, 1993 Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie |
| 24% | BIG | 3 | 1988 Tom Hanks movie with a giant piano keyboard |