What was in the briefcase in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 cult classic film Pulp Fiction? This is one of the most asked questions in film history and has been a popular topic among movie theorists. The lock combination to the case (666) is either a clue or a misdirect. There are some popular fan theories about the contents of the briefcase as well as some relatively unknown theories that suggest whatever is inside that case might not be the same for everyone who looks upon it.
Two hitmen played by actors John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson have been tasked by their gangster boss Marsellus Wallace to retrieve a briefcase. Marsellus is a powerful gangster with lots of money and connections. He bribes Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) to throw his next boxing match. When Marsellus goes out of town, Vincent Vega (John Travolta) escorts his wife Mia (Uma Thurman). Vincent purchased heroin earlier in the film, and Mia mistakes it for cocaine, snorts it, and overdoses. She is saved, and the two agree to not tell anyone, especially Marsellus, about the event.
Butch decides that he will take the money he was offered in the bribe, bet on himself, win the match, and make even more money. Not only does he double-cross Marsellus, but he accidentally kills his opponent. Butch knows he's in danger and gets ready to flee the city with his girlfriend. But she has forgotten to pack a gold watch (a very important family heirloom) and Butch must go back to his apartment to retrieve it, even though he knows hitmen will be looking for him. And that's when he runs into hitman Vincent Vega, whom Butch shoots and kills after he emerges from the bathroom.
Marsellus is clearly a very scary guy that everyone wants to avoid upsetting even if the mistake was clearly an accident. This alludes to his possibly evil and satanic nature. Throughout the film, several of the characters are seen looking upon the contents of the briefcase and saying things like how it's beautiful and perfect. But there is an obvious detail about Marsellus's appearance that some believe show he may have had his soul removed from his body. There is a very large bandage on the back of his neck, which could have been the area the soul was removed from. Perhaps Marsellus's pure and beautiful soul was removed (making him evil) and placed into the briefcase, and that's why he wants it back so badly.
According to the theory, the men in the apartment at the beginning of the film are the devil's servants who have stolen Marsellus's soul. They try to shoot at and kill Vincent and Jules, but Jules says there has been a divine intervention when one of the devil servants misses every shot. It's possible, God allowed Vincent and Jules to retrieve the suitcase and therefore save Marsellus's soul, as well as give Vincent and Jules a chance to save themselves. But apparently, actor Ving Rhames (Marsellus) had a scar on his neck that he wanted covered up, which is why the character is wearing the bandage.
Another theory for what the briefcase symbolizes is redemption. The characters in Pulp Fiction are all pretty corrupted, even twisting and turning verses from the Bible to justify their actions. At the beginning of the film, Jules Winnfield doesn't appear to have a righteous soul. But after his near-death experience, he is a changed man. Jules tries to help his friend and coworker Vincent see the light, but it doesn't work and Vincent is later killed. And then, at the end of the film, Yolanda and Ringo are tempted by whatever is in the case (much like Vincent was), but again Jules tries to save them.
Perhaps whatever is in the briefcase is different for everyone who looks at it. Maybe the contents of the case represent sin and temptation to do evil. Jules is able to get through to Ringo, and it looks like Jules was successful in saving Ringo's soul as he seems changed, too. Some fans enjoy making connections between the movies in a filmmaker's filmography, and there's no exception for Quentin Tarantino. There is an internet theory where some seem to think that the content of the briefcase are actually diamonds from another Tarantino film titled Reservoir Dogs.
Whatever is in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction, it's possible that director Quentin Tarantino was inspired by another movie with a famous MacGuffin titled Kiss Me Deadly. In that film, there is a similar case with glowing, mysterious contents. However, Tarantino said this was just a coincidence and was not an intentional choice. Cowriter for the film, Roger Avary, has said "it was decided that the contents of the briefcase were never to be seen" so the audience could choose to fill it with whatever they desired. Although the briefcase triggers the plot, it has little to do with the actual story, so it's not necessary to know what exactly is inside of it.