Babyteeth

2020 1h 58m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 409

DramaComedyRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A terminally ill teen upsets her parents when she falls in love with a small-time drug dealer.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Eliza Scanlen
Milla
Toby Wallace
Moses
Essie Davis
Anna
Ben Mendelsohn
Henry
Eugene Gilfedder
Gidon
Emily Barclay
Toby
Andrea Demetriades
Jenny
Charles Grounds
Dean

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Shannon Murphy
Writers: Rita Kalnejais, Rita Kalnejais
Languages: English
Countries: Australia

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Shannon Murphy, shot by Andrew Commis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Amanda Brown. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Stephen Evans shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Eliza Scanlen and Toby Wallace and Essie Davis carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt8399664 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Shannon Murphy directs. Andrew Commis behind the camera. Amanda Brown scores. Stephen Evans cuts. Produced in Australia. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 6 years ago.
2Directed by Shannon Murphy, shot by Andrew Commis. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Amanda Brown. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Stephen Evans shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Eliza Scanlen and Toby Wallace and Essie Davis carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt8399664 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Andrew Commis
Original score: Amanda Brown
Editing: Stephen Evans
Production design: Sherree Phillips
Costume design: Amelia Gebler
Makeup / hair: Angela Conte
Sound: Sam Hayward
Stunt coordinator: Nash Edgerton
Runtime: 118 min · 1h 58m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $989,310
Original language: EN
IMDB: Babyteeth (2020)

Awards

Australian Film Institute Award for Best Screenplay
AACTA Award for Best Original Music Score
AACTA Award for Best Direction
AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
AACTA Award for Best Film

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

Shannon Murphy

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

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Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

SWITCH.2020-07-23
★ 9/10
Stories of adolescence are some of the hardest to tell on screen in new and interesting ways, and the added complexities of terminal illness and a morally questionable teen romance that 'Babyteeth' adds to this makes the film feel like a miracle in how well it pulls almost every element off. Its cast and crew are at the top of their game, resulting in a film that's just as heartbreaking as any other teen cancer film, but elevated through a humour and cynicism, as well as incredible performances, assuring it won't be forgotten any time soon. - Ashley Teresa Read Ashley's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-babyteeth-a-frustrating-but-funny-australian-teen-dramedy
CinemaSerf2025-11-22
★ 7/10
Her parents (Ben Mendelssohn and Essie Davis) aren’t best pleased when their terminally ill daughter “Milla” (Eliza Scanlen) hooks up with deadbeat “Moses” (Toby Wallace). She is smitten with this older lad, but their concerns would seem to be borne out when he is caught trying to steal from this family’s extensive supply of prescription medication. Pretty swiftly, though, they realise that her routine life of medication and mollycoddling isn’t helping anyone’s mental health, so her psychiatrist dad invites “Moses” to move in with them and he agrees to prescribe as required to suit. Mum is also no stranger to anti-depressant and calming doses and so with everyone treading on psychological and chemical eggshells, this drama plays out with a certain inevitability, but in a characterful and sometimes quite poignant fashion. There’s a lot of hand-held photography and that contributes to a personal intensity as the characters try to live their lives whilst “Milla” begins her course of chemotherapy whilst “Moses” tests the faith of just about everyone, including himself! There are a few welcome distractions from the principal storyline. Mum is a musician and “Milla” has has been learning, with sporadic enthusiasm, the violin with family friend “Gidon” (Eugene Gilfedder) and their new neighbour across the street is constantly calling out “Henry” - dad’s name but also that of her constantly lost dog! Each character takes a different perspective to this prevailing situation and it’s that that makes this more interesting. Each position can be questionable; each position can be vindicated and each position proves to be adaptable as the only objective is really for “Milla” to find some degree of contentment. It’s also quite funny at times too. Sometimes darkly, sometimes in an almost childlike fashion and it’s not just the youngsters who have temperamental instances throughout this drama. In many ways it’s an observation, occasionally a little contrived, but mostly an engaging family story about belonging, loneliness and yep, even joy, too.