Published: June 9, 2021 | Last Updated: June 28, 2024
A ‘MacGuffin’ is a plot device used in storytelling. It often takes the form of an object, goal, or other element that drives the narrative forward. The characters typically desire it, but its specific nature may be vague or unimportant.
The term “MacGuffin” was coined by filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock to describe a plot device that serves as a driving force for the characters in a story but may not have much significance beyond that.
For example, in the film Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Ark of the Covenant is the MacGuffin that drives the characters’ actions and decisions throughout the movie.
Though some films do not rely on MacGuffins to set things in motion, they are a good idea if you struggle with pacing. MacGuffins effectively keep you on track, build mystery, and help tie your movie together.
In this article, we will define MacGuffins in more detail, provide some examples to clarify things, and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this plot device.
Examples
One of the clearest examples of a MacGuffin is the Pulp Fiction suitcase. The suitcase motivates the action; it is pursued throughout the film, but the contents remain unknown.
The great part of this example is that it illustrates how it is possible for an object to serve only as a plot device to move characters from point A to point B. The suitcase motivates conversations and actions, though the suitcase itself and what’s inside are largely irrelevant.
Another popular example of a MacGuffin is Rosebud in the film Citizen Kane. Like the suitcase, Rosebud is a mystery throughout the movie and is used to transport us between scenes.
Whereas the suitcase never has its contents revealed, Citizen Kane does reveal Rosebud’s meaning. Therefore, MacGuffins don’t have to exist solely as plot devices. They can hold significance outside of that, though their primary strength is as the catalyst for which actions take place.
A third and final example of a popular MacGuffin is the plans for the Death Star in Star Wars. Luke found these plans in R2-D2, and they motivated his trip across the galaxy, though we are barely told what they are.
Plans, files, and documents of any sort are common MacGuffins. Describing these things in detail would be unnecessary exposition and dialogue for most films. It is much more effective to show something’s importance than to tell us, even if the audience may never fully understand the object.
Strengths and weaknesses of using MacGuffins
Done right, using a MacGuffin in a film is a very effective plot device.
If done wrong, MacGuffins can be utilized poorly and appear contrived, distracting, or unnecessary. Because these devices are so popular, you must be careful about implementing them into your script.
So, let’s look at some of MacGuffins’ strengths and weaknesses.
Strength: Show, don’t tell
The strengths of MacGuffins lie in their efficiency in storytelling. Showing something in film is always more effective than saying it. Rather than explain why something is urgent or important, conveying that through characters’ actions and desperation will be far more convincing.
When the MacGuffin is an object that elicits such responses from a film’s characters, it is almost guaranteed to be visual. If it is somewhat of a mystery, the impact can be even stronger as we’re more likely to pay attention to reactions than the details of the object itself.
Strength: MacGuffins as plot organizing tools
MacGuffins are also very good at organizing a plot. As seen in Citizen Kane, a story can flash forward or backward through time and across locations. If it is all tied together by one object or idea, watching and writing will be much easier.
MacGuffin clichés
Some MacGuffins have been used so many times that they’ve become clichés.
Briefcases fx are a saturated piece of imagery. Though you can still use one in your screenplay, understanding the associations that come with that is important, and I am almost certain someone will bring up Pulp Fiction.
Don’t be vague for the sake of being vague. Instead, be intentional!
It’s also important not to be intentionally vague just for the sake of intrigue. Instead, ask yourself what needs to be described and what level of description will assist with moving the story forward.
Whereas the briefcase contents were irrelevant in Pulp Fiction, we were always aware that R2-D2 carried the plans for the Death Star. Given the plots of the two different movies, this makes sense.
Pulp Fiction used a MacGuffin to bring characters together and spark conversations. In contrast, Star Wars used a MacGuffin to bring the characters to an epic finale where the Death Star plans finally became relevant.
There are various ways to use MacGuffins, and none of them are inherently right or wrong. Instead, what’s important is understanding how it relates to the story you’re coming up with on your own and how it can move the plot forward while still engaging an audience.
MacGuffin Examples
Here’s a quick list of some famous MacGuffin Examples:
- The Genie’s Lamp in Aladdin (1992, 2019)
- Private Ryan, in Saving Private Ryan (1998)
- The Box in Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
- The Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- The Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
- The $40.000 in Psycho (1960)
- The Maltese Falcon in The Maltese Falcon (1941)
- The Declaration of Independence in National Treasure (2004)
- The One Ring in The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
- The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Summing Up
Hopefully, this helps clear up what a MacGuffin is and how to use it in your writing. Chances are you’ve already done this without knowing the term and are very familiar with MacGuffins across all sorts of media.
Knowing this, it becomes fun to spot MacGuffins in movies and recognize how their functions are similar or different between films. In addition, recycling these techniques and structures in your projects and writing is a great way to stay inspired and help you if you are suffering from a creative block.
Though we only used three examples, I know we missed countless more. Between all genres and movies from any era, these plot devices are integral to interesting stories. If done well, there is no problem with utilizing an object to anchor and drive your story forward.
Up Next: Common Clichés in Movies
