Definition of a Maguffin?

The definition of a Maguffin is when someone or the enemy is willing to give up absolutely anything.

This could include money, power, wealth, survival or something completely unexplained.

It is very common in films, especially in thrillers. This is because it gives the enemy something that he is actually working for. For example in the film Die hard. The enemy is usually working to gain power and money.

Also with a Maguffin it helps the story to be planned out more. It makes the film run smoothly through instead of having to stop at every point and have to explain why he is doing what he is doing.

Sometimes with a Maguffin it can be forgotten by the end of a film because it leaves the importance of it.   This could be because we start to more want to know how to hero is going to fix the issue of the story, not if the bad guy is going to win and run with the money. In short terms by the end of the film The audience does not really care what happens.