History Main / MementoMacguffin

* ''Film/TheLostMedallionTheLegendOfBillyStone'': Billy was given a distinctive stone by his mother some time before her death. Surprise! It's actually part of the magic medallion that enables it to grant wishes, and only becomes active when near the medallion itself. Of course, the bad guys want it.

* ''Film/The Lost MedallionTheLegendOfBillyStone'': Billy was given a distinctive stone by his mother some time before her death. Surprise! It's actually part of the magic medallion that enables it to grant wishes, and only becomes active when near the medallion itself. Of course, the bad guys want it.

* In the ''LightNovel/FateZero'' fanfic ''Fanfic/FateZeroSanity'', [[Manga/{{Hellsing}} Avenger]] gives [[KidHero Rin]] his [[HandCannon Casull]] in the form of a [[MagicalAccessory silver cross]] after he saves her life because she managed to impress him with her [[LittleMissBadass courage]]. She wears it throughout the remainder of the fic and is always shown wearing it afterwards.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys'': Diane Foxington's diamond ring is eventually revealed to be this. [[spoiler:It's actually the Zumpango Diamond, a legendary artifact she had stolen during her years as the legendary thief Crimson Paw. When she and Mr. Wolf are captured by Professor Marmalade, he steals the diamond from her [[EvilIsPetty just to be petty]]. But when he's caught with it later, he's mistaken for being the true identity of the Crimson Paw and is arrested.]]

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': There's Quill's Sony Walkman cassette player--or, more specifically, the "Awesome mix part 1" tape inside. It inspires him to [[spoiler:start a dance-off with the BigBad at the film's climax.]]

* In ''Film/{{Popeye}}'', the titular character carries an empty picture frame with the words [[CriticalResearchFailure "ME POPPA"]] painted on the empty backing. He kisses it goodnight every night. His father also has a similar empty frame with the words "ME SON."

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons,'' the episode "A Father's Watch" deals with a pocket watch belonging to Abe which, having long been coveted by Homer, proves a source of tension when Abe leaves it to Bart instead. Although its dramatic role in the story fits the bill in every respect as it's viewed as a symbol of [[WellDoneSonGuy coveted fatherly approval]], its literal status as a "Simpson family heirloom" is PlayedForLaughs as it's only been in the family since the ''80s,'' when, according to Abe, [[NoodleIncident it was stolen off a corpse at Gettysburg]].

* ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': [[Characters/MonsterVerseHumans Bernie]]'s flask [[BunnyEarsLawyer in a holster]], which his late wife left him. He tells Madison and Josh early on that if he ever empties the flask, it means that he's given up. [[spoiler:At the climax, when Mechagodzilla which is possessed by Ghidorah's subconsciousness is about to kill Kong (at which point there'll be nothing to stop the Ghidorah-possessed machine from killing a weakened Godzilla and becoming the new Alpha), Bernie is about to down the flask's contents, which gives Josh the idea to nab the flask off of him and pour its contents into the Mechagodzilla computer's hard drive, damaging it just in time to save Kong]].

* In ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', there's Quill's Sony Walkman cassette player--or, more specifically, the "Awesome mix part 1" tape inside. It inspires him to [[spoiler:start a dance-off with the BigBad at the film's climax.]]

* ''Film/IronMan1'' features his prototype Arc Reactor (originally used to power a medical device keeping his heart healthy) which he wanted to throw away, but his assistant instead puts it in a cute little case, as "Proof that Tony Stark Has A Heart". [[spoiler: [[ChekhovsGun Comes in damn handy]] when his more advanced version gets stolen.]]

Compare HoldOnToMyHat.

[[quoteright:350:[[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dontforget.jpg]]]]

* The watch in ''Film/PulpFiction''.

[[quoteright:350:[[Anime/FullmetalAlchemistBrotherhood https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dontforget.jpg]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'':The First Ones crystal Entrapta uses to power up Hordak’s new armor in Season 3. Its inscription mean “Loved”, hinting her concealed feelings for him. Believing she betrayed him, Hordak sadly touches the crystal as he watches She-Ra destroy the portal he and Entrapta built. During Season 4, the crystal becomes his [[AchillesHeel Achilles Heel]], because rips it off twice to reduce Hordak into submission: one, to blackmail him into turning her his second-in-command, and two, when she [[spoiler: fights for her life after Hordak learns she sent Entrapta to Beast Island.]] Somehow, Entrapta retrieves the crystal and shows it to a clone in “Save the Cat”, mistaking him for Hordak [[spoiler: the clone attacks her, but Bow accidentally disconnects him from the Hive Mind and he joins the rebels, being named “Wrong Hordak”]]. After the rebels’ departure, Hordak [[ContrivedCoincidence finds the crystal]], recovering part of his memories stolen by Horde Prime.

* Lydia's spider brooch, which is also a CallBack to [[WesternAnimation/{{Beetlejuice}} the show]], serves as this leading up to the climax in ''FanFic/{{Cinderjuice}}''. BJ is de-powered and almost definitely walking into a fatal trap, but looking at the brooch reminds him why it's worth the risk. The brooch appears at least once in each of the sequels; it's extremely important to Lydia.

* Madoka's ribbons in the ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' fanfic ''FanFic/ToTheStars'', which have never worn after hundreds of years, one of which Homura has and the other which she gave to Kyouko. The latter resides in the Cult of Hope’s main base, open to all magical girls to see. The ribbon is also said to give visions of the future and a glimpse of the Goddess herself.

* Throughout the Franchise/{{Batman}} ''Dusk to Dawn'' novels, [[ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} Selina Kyle]] never takes off a pendant with a penny set in it. Damian deduces early on it must be sentimental, and he's right. [[spoiler:The coin was a parting gift from her sister Maggie when they last saw each other as girls. It represents their connection, and Selina [[CharacterTic touches it whenever faced with a moral dilemma]]. When Maggie returns as a {{Corrupt Church}}'s SuperSoldier, the penny serves as proof that Selina has always loved her, and breaks Maggie's conditioning in time to save her sister's life.]] After joining the Batfamily, Selina adds to the necklace to represent them: A knight chess piece for Bruce, an enamel bluebird for Dick, a jade carving of a tiger for Damian, and [[spoiler:a little cat bell for her daughter, Helena]].

* The locket that belonged to Joe's mother in ''Film/{{Super 8}}''.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'':