Babyteeth (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Babyteeth is a 2019 romantic drama directed by Shannon Murphy, starring Eliza Scanlen as Milla, Toby Wallace and Emily Barclay. It is based on Babyteeth by Rita Kalnejais. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $1.1 million worldwide. Its Echo Score is 81/100.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 58m (118 min)
- Director
- Shannon Murphy
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Create NSW
- Based on
- Babyteeth by Rita Kalnejais
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Babyteeth About?
The premise of Babyteeth without spoilers, adapted from Babyteeth by Rita Kalnejais. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A terminally ill teen upsets her parents when she falls in love with a small-time drug dealer.
Babyteeth Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- pills
- dog
- teenage girl loses her hair
- teenage girl wears a wig
- hospital
- first love
- beach
- mother daughter relationship
- australia
- asking for money
- eating
- therapist client relationship
+38 more Show fewer
- sex
- sex on a desk
- framed photograph
- sandwich
- kiss
- telephone call
- apology
- haircut
- cell phone
- bichon the dog
- hair clippers
- theft
- psychiatrist
- backpack
- crying woman
- girls' bathroom
- taking a selfie
- stoned
- girls school
- watching news on a cell phone
- reference to wolfgang amadeus mozart
- swimming pool
- imitating a bird
- reference to dmitri shostakovich
- record player
- calculator
- lie
- drinking water from a faucet
- searching for daughter
- boy violinist
- injection
- morphine
- wine
- taking a photograph with a cell phone
- sleeping on a sofa
- mother and daughter share a bed
- piano duet
- crying teenage girl
Babyteeth Cast & Characters
Eliza Scanlen leads the cast as Milla, with Toby Wallace as Moses and Emily Barclay as Toby. Directed by Shannon Murphy; 21 actors are credited in all.
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Director Shannon Murphy
-
Eliza Scanlen as Milla -
Toby Wallace as Moses -
Emily Barclay as Toby -
Ben Mendelsohn as Henry
Also Starring in Babyteeth
· 17 more- Zack Grech Isaac
- Essie Davis Anna
- Eugene Gilfedder Gidon
- Justin Smith Drunk Crooner
- Arka Das Shaun
- Andrea Demetriades Jenny
- Georgina Symes Polly
- Priscilla Doueihy Kathy
- Charles Grounds Dean
- Michelle Lotters Scarlett
- Renee Billing Lisa
- Sora Wakaki Maria
- Quentin Yung Pharmacist
- Jack Yabsley Government Spokesperson
- Jaga Yap Dom
- Edward Lau Tin Wah
Show all 21 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Tyrone Mafohla Boy on Platform
More from Shannon Murphy
More films directed by Shannon Murphy, best-rated first: Babyteeth and Kharisma.
Babyteeth Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 81/100, strongest in art & craft (88) and weakest in story & flow (68).
Babyteeth Echo Score Breakdown
Babyteeth delivers a resonant emotional experience anchored by confident direction and striking visual composition. Critics and viewers alike commend the film’s polished cinematography, purposeful editing, and thoughtful production design, which together create an intimate yet vivid portrait of a young woman’s final months. While narrative cohesion sometimes wavers, the overall impact remains powerful, leaving audiences with lingering reflection and a high likelihood of returning to the film for its emotional depth.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 88
In terms of art and craft, the film is praised for its assured direction and striking visual style. Critics highlight confident pacing, effective editing, and compelling cinematography, while users note the appealing photography and music. No significant criticism of visual or technical elements appears, resulting in a high assessment of the film’s artistic execution.
- Character & Emotion 85
When it comes to character and emotion, performances are widely regarded as strong and nuanced. Reviews emphasize fully realized central characters, four excellent performances, and a particularly praised portrayal of the cancer‑stricken protagonist. Though a single user comment mentions a lack of empathy, the dominant sentiment is that the acting elevates the emotional core of the story.
- Story & Flow 68
Story and flow receive a mixed evaluation, balancing commendation for an honest coming‑of‑age narrative with concerns about cohesion. Positive remarks note engaging themes and emotional resonance, yet critics and users point to uneven pacing, conventional melodramatic tropes, and unresolved plot angles. This blend of praise and criticism places the narrative quality in a moderate range.
- Sensory Experience 82
Sensory experience is consistently praised, with attention to sound, music, and visual composition. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as effective and the cinematography as striking, contributing to an immersive atmosphere. No substantive detractors are recorded, supporting a strong score for the film’s auditory and visual cohesion.
- Rewatch Factor 78
Rewatch factor is broadly positive, driven by the film’s emotional impact and lasting appeal. Many viewers report powerful tear‑jerking moments and a desire to revisit the experience, while a minority find the pacing slow or the narrative unoriginal. Overall, the film’s resonance suggests solid replay value despite some reservations.
Babyteeth Plot Summary
What happens in Babyteeth from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Milla Finlay, a Eliza Scanlen played by Eliza Scanlen, is a young girl facing the devastating reality of a terminal illness. The film opens with a poignant scene at a train station, where Milla waits on the platform, and a slightly older boy named Moses, played by Toby Wallace, runs near the tracks. Despite her friends waiting, Milla stays back and chats with Moses. During their conversation, her nose begins to bleed, prompting Moses to give her his shirt to stop the bleeding. In a later exchange, Moses asks Milla for shelter, revealing that he’s been kicked out of his home, and she gives him fifty dollars in exchange for a favor: shaving her head, as she is about to start chemotherapy for her illness.
Full summary
The whole story of Babyteeth, scene by scene
Babyteeth Box Office
Babyteeth grossed $1.1 million worldwide. $4,507 came from the US and Canada and $1.1 million (100%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$1.1M
- US & Canada
- $4.5K
- International
- $1.1M
Babyteeth Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 featurette.
- Trailer Official UK Trailer
- Featurette Babyteeth Q&A with Shannon Murphy, Eliza Scanlen & Toby Wallace
How Well Do You Know Babyteeth?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the protagonist of Babyteeth?
Seen Babyteeth?
Movies Like Babyteeth
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Babyteeth, Babygirl and Teenage Dirtbag.
Babyteeth FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Babyteeth, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Babyteeth?
Babyteeth runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).
When was Babyteeth released?
Babyteeth was released on September 4, 2019.
Who directed Babyteeth?
Babyteeth was directed by Shannon Murphy.
More films by Shannon Murphy Who is in the cast of Babyteeth?
Babyteeth stars Eliza Scanlen as Milla, Toby Wallace as Moses and Emily Barclay as Toby, among 21 credited actors.
How much did Babyteeth make at the box office?
Babyteeth grossed $1.1 million worldwide ($4,507 domestic, $1.1 million international).
Is Babyteeth based on a book?
Yes. Babyteeth is adapted from Babyteeth by Rita Kalnejais.
Does Babyteeth have a post-credit scene?
No. Babyteeth has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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