Stuff You Should Know

Short Stuff: MacGuffins

February 25, 2026

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  • A MacGuffin is generally agreed upon as a plot device that motivates characters in a story or movie, though definitions differ on its ultimate importance to the plot itself. 
  • Two main definitions of a MacGuffin exist: one where the object is the central driver of the entire plot (like the Maltese Falcon), and another where the object is vitally important to the characters but ultimately irrelevant to the overall plot (like the gold head statue in *Raiders of the Lost Ark*). 
  • Alfred Hitchcock popularized the term, defining it as something vitally important to the characters but of no importance to the narrator/audience, contrasting with George Lucas's view that the audience should care about the object (like R2D2 in *Star Wars*). 

Segments

Introduction to MacGuffin Concept
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(00:01:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode will define the MacGuffin, a term that has contradictory definitions.
  • Summary: Josh introduces the topic, noting that Chuck is sitting in for Dave, making it a ‘Short Stuff.’ The central question is ‘What is a MacGuffin?’ They establish that it is a plot device that motivates characters, but the definitions differ on its ultimate importance to the plot.
The Maltese Falcon Definition
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(00:02:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The first definition posits the MacGuffin is the object that moves the entire movie, exemplified by The Maltese Falcon.
  • Summary: The hosts discuss the Maltese Falcon as the classic example. One definition states the object is the point—the entire plot revolves around obtaining it. The other definition suggests it causes action but is ultimately unimportant to the overall plot.
Raiders of the Lost Ark Debate
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(00:04:47)
  • Key Takeaway: The initial gold head in Raiders of the Lost Ark fits the second definition, but the Ark of the Covenant’s status is debated.
  • Summary: They use the gold head statue from Raiders of the Lost Ark as an example of an object that seems central but isn’t. They then debate whether the Ark of the Covenant itself is a MacGuffin, given that it is ultimately just stored away in a warehouse.
Blackmail Letter as MacGuffin
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(00:08:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The blackmail letter in The Murder of Roger Aykroyd is a clear example of an object important to characters but secondary to the main investigation plot.
  • Summary: Josh offers the blackmail letter from Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Aykroyd as a better example of the second definition: it motivates the murder but the real plot is Poirot’s investigation.
Hitchcock and Origin Theories
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(00:09:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Hitchcock popularized the term, defining it as something important to characters but not the narrator, contrasting with George Lucas’s view on R2D2.
  • Summary: They discuss Hitchcock’s use and explanations of the term. One theory for the origin involves a story about two Scots arguing over a package containing a ‘MacGuffin’ for hunting tigers in Scotland, illustrating meaninglessness.
Classic Film MacGuffin Examples
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(00:10:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The $40,000 stolen in Psycho is a perfect MacGuffin because it sets the plot in motion and is then forgotten.
  • Summary: The $40,000 stolen by Janet Leigh in Psycho is cited as a classic example that motivates her journey to the Bates Motel but is irrelevant afterward. They also mention the cassette tape in Escape from New York and the briefcase in Pulp Fiction.