What is a MacGuffin?

A MacGuffin is a plot element that propels a narrative forward, but ultimately has little importance to the story. In other words, it is something that the characters care about, but is irrelevant to the audience. It is primarily associated with director Alfred Hitchcock, but the term itself is attributed to his collaborator, screenwriter Angus MacPhail. One way to recognize a MacGuffin is to determine if it can be replaced without affecting the story. For example in Mission: Impossible, the entire plot is based on retrieving a list of all covert CIA operatives, but this could easily be swapped out for nuclear codes or a biological weapon, essentially the mission would be the same.

The Alfred Hitchcock MacGuffin

Alfred Hitchcock is known for his use of MacGuffins in his thrillers and mystery films. The famous director's purpose in using this element was to give objects as little meaning as possible. He once said that a MacGuffin is really nothing. A perfect example of this is Psycho. At the beginning of the film, we see Marion Crane as she runs off with stolen money. The money is what drives her out of town and, therefore, to stop at the Bates Motel, where a tragic end awaits her. Norman unknowingly packed the money in the car and sinks it. By the end of the movie, almost all of us have forgotten about the money. This makes it a MacGuffin in the purest sense. It is crucial to advancing the plot, but has no other meaning.

Another famous Hitchcock example is in North By Northwest, where the microfilm is the MacGuffin. Although it is what leads Thornhill and Eve to have a closer relationship as they search for it, in the end it turns out to be insignificant to the audience and could have been anything else.

However, this is not to say that MacGuffins are unnecessary in Hitchcock's films. In fact, they are essential to advance the plot and keep the audience interested. Without them, many of his films would not be as exciting or interesting. It is important to keep in mind that a MacGuffin does not need to be something physical. It can be anything the characters are pursuing or looking for, regardless of whether it has real meaning or not. The ultimate purpose of a MacGuffin is simply to keep the characters and the audience interested and engaged in the story.

The George Lucas MacGuffin

Unlike Alfred Hitchcock, George Lucas believes that the audience should care about the MacGuffin. It should drive the plot and have real meaning for both the characters and the audience. This has caused much confusion in the debate, as it contradicts Hitchcock's original meaning. Some question whether Lucas' version should be called MacGuffin or not.

Lucas has used his version of the MacGuffin in many of his films, such as in Star Wars: A New Hope, where the plans carried by R2-D2 are what the rebels ultimately use to destroy the Death Star. Unlike Hitchcock, these plans never lose importance to the plot or the audience. Lucas' approach to the MacGuffin can also be seen in his plots for "Indiana Jones." Lucas calls the Ark of the Covenant the perfect MacGuffin. The search for the object drives the plot. And for most of the movie, it seems like the ark could be interchangeable with any other artifact. However, the climax reveals that the ark actually has magical powers and it is crucial to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Nazis. The ark continues to have unique significance until the end of the film, as Indie wants to further study the object. The ark is not the heart of "Raiders," but it is more important than a Hitchcock MacGuffin.

Why Use A MacGuffin?

A MacGuffin is an element or object that drives the plot of a movie or story without needing to be of great importance in itself. For example, the briefcase in Pulp Fiction is a MacGuffin in that it is something Jules and Vincent need to get, but there is no explanation of its content or why it is so important to them. The use of a MacGuffin can help simplify the plot and avoid the need for a great deal of exposition. It can also surprise the audience if it is removed or introduced late in the story, changing the direction of the plot.

In general the MacGuffin should not be the main focus of the story and should be replaced by something of real significance to the audience. In addition, the MacGuffin must be clearly identified and its type must be understood in order to use it effectively in a story.

Wrap-Up / Takeaways

In conclusion, the MacGuffin is a versatile technique that can be used beyond its original application and can be adapted to different contexts to remain fresh and appealing to the audience.