puzzle

 ACROSS

  1 Rainbows, for example

  5 Like talking in a movie theater

  9 Grain bundle

 14 Michael of "Juno"

 15 Youngest Stark daughter in "Game of Thrones"

 16 Luxury Italian car, informally

 17 *Starting to encounter - ? = Situated alongside

 19 See 34-Down

 20 Spuds

 21 Like many a teenager's skin

 23 Part of MOMA

 24 Watch closely

 25 *Making a landing - ? = Like a genuine person

 28 Single: Prefix

 29 Stench

 30 Fixer-___

 33 X in a checkbox, e.g.

 36 Give five stars, say

 39 Ilk

 40 Lists of commands

 41 Bygone Russian ruler

 42 Tokyo 2020 sword

 43 Travelers' stops

 44 Desert refuge

 45 See 56-Across

 47 Ian McKellen and others, title-wise

 49 *Movies that should be exciting - ? = Romantic feelings

 53 Cardinals, on scoreboards

 56 With 45-Across, the Windy City

 57 Char

 58 Abhor

 60 Canines and others

 62 LGBTQ+ milestone celebrated on October 11, or a hint to each starred clue's missing word

 64 Nail polish brand

 65 Part of, as a joke

 66 "At Wit's End" author Bombeck

 67 Dissuade

 68 Ilk

 69 It's outstanding

DOWN

  1 Not right or obtuse

  2 "How can I ever ___ you?"

  3 Container for fruit

  4 Wise person

  5 ___ d'etre

  6 Container for coffee

  7 Vacuum brand

  8 Face-plant

  9 Killed it on "RuPaul's Drag Race"

 10 Syllable after "hardy"

 11 Humiliate

 12 Cancel, as a launch

 13 Back's counterpart

 18 Zeal

 22 Takes a peek

 26 Group underrepresented in Congress

 27 Parts of hearts

 28 Shooting star, actually

 30 Purpose

 31 Coke, in certain regions

 32 Most fair

 34 With 19-Across, home of the University of Michigan

 35 "Avengers: Endgame" co-director Anthony or Joe

 37 Mai ___

 38 Workplaces for some RNs

 40 Chop, as garlic

 44 Welles who directed "Citizen Kane"

 46 Dryer's companion

 48 Skate variety

 49 Performed in a show

 50 "We hold ___ truths to be self-evident"

 51 Implied

 52 Wry humor

 53 Word following "App" or "Apple"

 54 Gardener's "green" digit

 55 Allow to attack

 59 Like some wine and cheese

 61 Common tic-tac-toe result

 63 Cleaning tool

solution