What Is A MaGuffin?

A maguffin is an something that is desired by either the antagonist or the protagonist. Usually as an audience we are not informed by narrative of why the maguffin has such a significant importance. A maguffin is usually an object but it can also be a place, person or even an emotion felt by the antagonist. The maguffin acts as a motivator but is usually seen as an unimportant part of the plot.

Examples of maguffin's in film

Throughout film history maguffins have played a major role in creating the best film possible. If the maguffin does not match the rest of the film the the audience may find the film unrealistic.

Lord Of The Rings
A good example of a maguffin is the ring in Peter Jackson's "Lord Of The Rings". In Lord Of The Rings Frodo is sent on a dangerous journey to destroy the ring in mount doom as it has the  ability to control all the other Rings of Power which could destroy Middle-earth. To the audience, although we can clearly see that the ring is powerful we seem to focus more on Frodo's actual journey rather than the ring.
                                           

     

Mission Impossible 3

Another good example is the rabbits foot in mission impossible 3. In the film weapons dealer Owen Davian wants the rabbits foot and it's up to Hunt to get it for him or else his fiancee Julia will be brutily murdered. This rabbits foot is unimportant to the audience and the protagonist but seems majorly important to the antagonist. This rabbits foot drives the whole of the plot.