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Plot Summary

Babyteeth (2020) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 118 min · English
Echo score 83
JustWatch #21,643 8
Directed by
Shannon Murphy
Starring
Ben Mendelsohn, Essie Davis, Andrea Demetriades, Arka Das, Charles Grounds, Eliza Scanlen

When a teenager's illness leads to an unexpected romance with a charismatic young man, her parents face their deepest anxieties. As love blossoms, Milla's vibrant spirit inspires those around her, bringing joy and a sense of urgency to family, friends, and even strangers. The experience teaches everyone to embrace the present and discover beauty within unexpected circumstances.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Babyteeth
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Babyteeth (2020)

Where can you watch Babyteeth? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on AMC+, Philo and Sundance Now: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Babyteeth: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Babyteeth (2020) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Milla Finlay, a 16-year-old schoolgirl, faces the harsh reality of her recent cancer diagnosis. One fateful day, while waiting for her train, she encounters Moses (Arka Das), a 23-year-old who quite audaciously asks her for money. Captivated by him, Milla introduces him to her parents—Anna (Essie Davis), a passionate musician, and Henry (Ben Mendelsohn), a dedicated psychiatrist. Despite their discomfort with the significant age gap, they reluctantly allow the relationship to flourish due to Milla's fragile health condition.

One night, Anna's instincts lead her to discover an alarming scene: Moses attempting to pilfer prescription drugs from their home. When awakened, Milla and Henry contemplate calling the police, but Milla's heartfelt plea for compassion sways Anna, who acknowledges the happiness Moses brings to her daughter. Subsequently, she cautions Moses to maintain distance from Milla, hoping to protect her.

Undeterred, Moses continues to make his presence felt at Milla's school. After a determined search, Milla finds him, leading to exhilarating drug runs and wild parties, culminating in a night spent on a rooftop. However, heartbreak ensues when Moses vanishes, prompting her concerned parents to take her to the hospital.

As time progresses, Henry and Anna realize that they cannot effectively prevent Milla and Moses' relationship. They become more accepting, allowing Moses frequent access to her. Yet, when Milla falls ill and Anna uncovers that Moses has pilfered her medication, a rift occurs. Milla feels betrayed, suspecting Moses of exploiting their family’s drug supply, leading her to kick him out.

In a surprising twist, Henry tracks down Moses and offers him a place in their home, promising him drugs in exchange for keeping Milla happy. This unusual arrangement works for a while until Milla learns of her father's deceitful drugging of Moses. Anger ensues, and Milla demands Moses leave, though he later returns, attempting to combat his addictions to prioritize their relationship.

After a joyful 17th birthday celebration, Milla confides in Moses about her unending pain and the approaching end of her life. In a moment of desperation, she implores him to end her suffering by suffocation, a request he tragically cannot fulfill. Instead, they share an intimate moment, their first time together.

The following morning, as Anna tends to Milla, she realizes with heartache that Milla has transitioned from life during the night. In a poignant flashback, Henry reminisces about a serene day at the beach with Milla. She confides in him her acceptance of dying and urges him to look after Moses. With love and sorrow, Henry promises that he and Anna will find their way through this impending grief.

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 15:48

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Plot questions answered

Babyteeth Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Babyteeth (2020): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Milla's parents allow her relationship with Moses despite his age and behavior?

Milla's parents, Anna and Henry, reluctantly accepted Moses because of Milla's terminal cancer diagnosis. They recognized that their daughter's time was limited, and Moses brought her genuine happiness, a feeling they hadn't seen in her since her illness. Despite their discomfort with the 23-year age gap and his criminal behavior, they chose to prioritize Milla's emotional well-being over their own reservations, understanding that fighting the relationship would only cause her more pain.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Milla's declining health and her parents' desperation to give her moments of joy.

  • Milla's parents
  • Moses
  • terminal cancer
  • acceptance
  • Anna
  • Henry
Q2

Why did Moses steal medication from Milla's family?

Moses stole prescription drugs from Milla's home because he is addicted to drugs. This theft occurs early in their relationship when Anna discovers him rummaging through their medicine cabinet. The theft reveals Moses's problematic lifestyle and creates tension between him and the family, though Milla defends him despite this betrayal.

Foreshadowing: Moses's drug addiction is hinted at when he asks Milla for money and engages in drug runs.

  • Moses
  • theft
  • medication
  • addiction
  • drugs
Q3

Why did Henry offer Moses drugs in exchange for staying with Milla?

Henry made the desperate decision to offer Moses drugs in exchange for his presence because he saw how much happiness Moses brought his dying daughter. After Milla kicked Moses out upon discovering he stole her medication, Henry tracked him down and proposed this morally questionable arrangement. Henry believed that keeping Milla happy during her final months was more important than the ethical implications of enabling Moses's addiction.

Foreshadowing: Henry's desperation to please his dying daughter was evident when he and Anna first allowed Moses into their home.

  • Henry
  • Moses
  • drugs
  • deal
  • Milla's happiness
Q4

Why did Milla ask Moses to end her life?

Milla asked Moses to suffocate her because she was suffering unbearable pain from her terminal cancer and wanted to die on her own terms. After celebrating her 17th birthday, she confided in Moses about her constant pain and approaching death, then pleaded with him to end her suffering. This desperate request reflects her desire for control over her own body at a time when cancer had taken everything else from her.

Foreshadowing: Milla had been declining physically throughout the film, and her pain became increasingly apparent.

  • Milla
  • Moses
  • death
  • suffocation
  • mercy
  • pain
Q5

What happened to Moses after Milla died?

After Milla died, Henry and Anna chose to continue caring for Moses despite no longer being obligated to do so. In the closing flashback, Milla had asked Henry to look after Moses, and Henry promised to honor that wish. The family decided to navigate their grief together, taking responsibility for helping Moses with his addiction issues as a way of honoring Milla's memory.

Foreshadowing: Milla's final conversation with Henry on the beach included her asking him to care for Moses.

  • Moses
  • Milla's death
  • Henry
  • Anna
  • future
Q6

Why did Milla defend Moses after catching him stealing?

Milla defended Moses despite catching him stealing because her feelings for him outweighed her anger at his betrayal. When Anna discovered Moses attempting to steal prescription drugs, Milla pleaded with her mother to let him stay, arguing that his presence made her happy. Milla understood his flaws and addiction struggles, choosing compassion over condemnation during her limited time alive.

Foreshadowing: Milla's immediate attraction to Moses was based on his bold, unconventional nature.

  • Milla
  • Moses
  • theft
  • defense
  • loyalty
Q7

Why did Milla and Moses become intimate on her birthday?

Milla and Moses shared their first sexual experience on her 17th birthday because it was a pivotal moment of acceptance for Milla. She had just confessed to Moses that she was in constant pain and approaching death, and she wanted to experience intimacy and connection before she died. The moment represented Milla claiming agency over her body and life, choosing to share something meaningful with the person she loved most.

Foreshadowing: Milla's 17th birthday was presented as a joyful celebration despite her declining health.

  • Milla
  • Moses
  • intimacy
  • birthday
  • first time
Q8

What was the significance of the beach scene with Henry and Milla?

The beach flashback shows Milla accepting her impending death and asking her father Henry to take care of Moses after she's gone. This peaceful memory occurs after Milla's death when Henry reflects on their last calm moment together. The scene provides closure and demonstrates Milla's maturity in facing death, while also explaining why Henry and Anna commit to supporting Moses in the aftermath.

Foreshadowing: The beach scene was explicitly presented as a flashback after Milla's death.

  • Henry
  • Milla
  • beach
  • acceptance
  • death
  • memory
Q9

Why did Anna allow Moses back after discovering his theft the second time?

Anna allowed Moses to return despite discovering he had stolen Milla's specific medication because she witnessed the genuine happiness he brought her daughter. After the initial theft was discovered, Moses left but returned to fight his addictions for Milla's sake. Anna recognized his efforts to change and understood that separating them would cause Milla more suffering than his flaws caused.

Foreshadowing: Anna's transformation from hostile to accepting happened gradually as she observed Milla's joy with Moses.

  • Anna
  • Moses
  • forgiveness
  • second chance
Q10

Why did Moses keep returning to Milla despite her kicking him out?

Moses kept returning to Milla because their connection transcended his self-serving motivations. Even after Milla kicked him out upon discovering he'd stolen her medication, Moses returned determined to overcome his addictions to be with her. His repeated returns demonstrate that despite his flaws, his feelings for Milla were genuine and he wanted to prove himself worthy of her love.

Foreshadowing: Moses's persistence at Milla's school after being rejected showed his determination to stay in her life.

  • Moses
  • Milla
  • return
  • addiction
  • love

Movie threads

More Movies Like Babyteeth, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Babyteeth tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about finding joy in tragedy like Babyteeth

Stories that find fierce joy and vibrant connection while facing terminal illness. Discover movies like Babyteeth that explore how characters embrace life and love with urgency when facing a terminal illness. These similar drama films blend heavy emotional weight with bittersweet, vibrant moments of joy and connection.

  • life-affirming
  • melancholic
  • tender
  • desperate
  • vibrant
  • introspective
  • Tone: bittersweet, life-affirming
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a character or group grappling with a terminal diagnosis. The narrative arc is less about seeking a cure and more about the emotional journey of accepting fate, often involving a race to experience life's joys, mend relationships, and leave a meaningful impact.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique ability to hold profound sadness and radiant life in the same frame. They share a bittersweet tone, high emotional intensity, and a central theme of finding light in the darkest of circumstances.

Dysfunctional family dramas like Babyteeth

Families on the brink find a messy, reluctant unity through a shared trauma. If you liked the family dynamics in Babyteeth, explore these movies about fractured families struggling with addiction, grief, and anxiety. These similar stories show how a crisis can force a broken family to reluctantly find their way back to each other.

  • anxious
  • raw
  • tender
  • dysfunctional
  • grieving
  • healing
  • Tone: anxious, tender, raw
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern centers on a family unit already strained by secrets, addiction, or emotional distance. An external catalyst, often a health crisis or tragic event, acts as a pressure cooker, forcing long-ignored issues to the surface. The story follows the chaotic, painful, but ultimately transformative process of the family members grappling with their individual flaws to support one another.

Why they belong together: These films share a focus on the complex, anxiety-ridden dynamics of a family under extreme duress. They are united by a heavy emotional weight, a steady, character-driven pace, and themes of parental anxiety, addiction, and grief shaping the path to an imperfect reconciliation.

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Movies Like Babyteeth

Similar movies to Babyteeth: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Babyteeth (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Babyteeth in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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