History Main / DismantledMacGuffin

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In ''Episode VII: Film/TheForceAwakens'', the Resistance (an unofficial military group in the New Republic) and the First Order ([[TheRemnant the reorganized Galactic Empire]]) are all after a map leading to [[spoiler:the now-reclusive Luke Skywalker]]. Resistance pilot Poe Dameron retrieves the map, but it's eventually discovered that the map is incomplete; no known star systems are featured on it. Towards the end, the remaining section of the map is found inside [[spoiler:the shut-down R2-D2]].

If the said artifact was disassembled because it possesses an [[ArtifactOfDoom evil will of its own]], this overlaps with SealedEvilInASixPack. If it was disassembled because there was a good chance that evil would get their hands on it in the present, this overlaps with FlingALightIntoTheFuture. If the assembled artifact has far stronger (and useful!) properties, it's due to the SetBonus. If the pieces end up in the hands of different characters as they search for it, it may become a SignatureDevice and/or lead to a case of TwoHalvesMakeAPlot.

** This plot point returns with less influence in ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2''; this time, ''Knuckles himself'' breaks it as Eggman tries to do away with it. This time there's ''two'' characters collecting the pieces.

** However, [[spoiler:the Soul Stone]] ''could'' be considered a true [[spoiler:MacGuffin]] within the set because it was collected because you GottaCatchThemAll rather than sought for its own unique abilities.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': The six Infinity Stones that have been introduced throughout the movies are exceptionally powerful artifacts when used individuals. And when placed in the Infinity Gauntlet, they can allow their user to perform great feats such as [[spoiler:erasing half of all life in the universe with a snap of their fingers, as Thanos does in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'']]. And in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'', [[the Stones must be reassembled to undo the Snap]]. In both examples, the set of Stones don't function ''exactly'' as a standard [[spoiler:MacGuffin]] because [[spoiler:their powers were used]]...even though they qualify as a DismantledMacGuffin.
** However, [[spoiler:the Soul Stone]] ''can'' be considered a true [[spoiler:MacGuffin]] because it was collected because you GottaCatchThemAll rather than sought for its own unique abilities.

* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': The six Infinity Stones that have been introduced throughout the movies are exceptionally powerful artifacts when used individuals. And when placed in the Infinity Gauntlet, they can allow their user to perform great feats such as [[spoiler:erasing half of all life in the universe with a snap of their fingers, as Thanos does in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'']]. This would make the Stones appear to not function exactly as a [[spoiler:MacGuffin]] because [[spoiler:their powers were used]].