Fantasy's Great MacGuffins
AMC Movie List

Fantasy's Great MacGuffins

Which of these items is the best fantasy plot-driver?

rank title points votes your vote
1 The Ark of the Covenant, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
<p>The Ark contains the fragments of the Ten Commandments and the power of God -- and forces Harrison Ford to grapple with Nazis!</p> 64 90
2 The One Ring, The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)
<p>The ring contains the power to rule all Middle Earth; it slowly corrupts Elijah Wood as he quests to destroy it.</p> 54 98
3 Shrubbery, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1976)
<p>These bushes make no difference to the plot, but create nonsensical situations like chopping a tree with a herring.</p> 29 81
4 The Holy Grail, Excalibur (1981)
<p>Quite literally, the Holy Grail of MacGuffins, Arthur instigates the quest after deciding his knights need something to do.</p> 23 61
5 The Gold Coin, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
<p>An Aztec treasure turns Johnny Depp into an undead skeleton.</p> 18 78
6 Horcruxes, the Harry Potter Series (2001-2011)
<p>Everyday objects house one seventh of Lord Voldemort's soul. Each must be destroyed in a unique quest.</p> 14 80
7 The Girl With Green Eyes, Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
<p>MacGuffin's can be people too. The girl is kidnapped and enchanted, inspiring Kurt Russell to search for her. -2 60
8 The Talisman, Red Sonja (1985)
<p>A magical sphere capable of destroying the whole world? That's worth Brigitte Nielsen running around in a red bikini.</p> -28 46
9 The Triangle of Light, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
<p>The Triangle can control space and time, and it allows Angelina to resurrect the dead and have conversations with Jon Voight.</p> -29 55
10 The Medallion, The Medallion (2003)
<p>Merge the medallion with Jackie Chan and then die, and you're granted supernatural powers and immortality.</p> -32 46