ComingSoon.net has searched through all of the complexities of film and found some of the most poignant, hilarious and irrelevant MacGuffins the silver screen has to offer. Check out our picks in the gallery below!
Sometimes writers just need to move the story along or motivate characters without the narrative becoming a convoluted mess. This is where Macguffins come in, an object, character, device—anything that moves the plot forward but doesn’t necessarily mean anything (although sometimes they do mean something…like ALOT). Some of the greatest films feature tropes, themes and things like MacGuffins are beautiful and iconic; they stick out in our minds as a cornerstone of cinema.
Ironically, people debate online, in person, everywhere trying to pinpoint the actual nature of the more meaningless MacGuffins; truth is, sometimes they don’t really mean anything—even when we think they do, they really just exist to move the plot forward. The most powerful things in life, especially in film, simply exist just for the sake of existence. Here’s a collection of some well-known MacGuffins that have elevated their respective films to iconic status.
The 7 Coolest MacGuffins in Film
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The briefcase, Pulp Fiction (1994)
This one has been picked apart for ages; does the briefcase contain Marsellus Wallace' soul? Doesn't matter at the end of the day—just moves the plot along.
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Rosebud, Citizen Kane (1941)
The entire movie is spent trying to figure out the meaning behind the last word Kane uttered, "Rosebud." The name of his sled, it's metaphorical for the life he turned his back on.
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Doug, The Hangover (2009)
The bachelor party loses the groom and spends the entire movie trying to find him...and figure out what the heck happened the prior night. Is Doug a character or a plot device? Both?
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The rug that... The Big Lebowski (1998)
"That rug really tied the room together."
Maybe one of the most beloved lines in cinema; when the Dude's life is thrown into chaos, it's all because of a kidnapping (also a MacGuffin) and a Persian rug that...
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The ark of the covenant, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Talk about a high stakes MacGuffin. This biblical artifact is pursued by both Indiana Jones and the Nazis—the driving force behind Raiders, obviously.
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The one ring, The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
When an object is the film's title, it might just be a MacGuffin.
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The infinity gauntlet, Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The infinity stones play a HUGE role in the Marvel cinematic universe. They unite the guardians of the galaxy, empower Loki, etc.In Infinity War (and Endgame) everyone is after them.
