Club Benefits
- Where to Stream: Tubi (free)
- Genre: Coming-of-age / Romantic Drama
- The Vibe: Raw, unfiltered, and deeply emotional. Think "The Fault in Our Stars," but grittier and more grounded.
- Starring: Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Ben Mendelsohn, and Essie Davis.
- Warning: Keep the tissues within reach; this is a certified tear-jerker.
If you’re in the mood to cry about life and young love, now is the time to head to Tubi. Seriously. It is officially time for a good, old-fashioned sobfest, and this free streaming platform has an absolute gem on deck right now.
You never forget your first love. But what if it’s also your last? And what if, instead of that love growing with you into adulthood, it’s cut short by the ever-looming threat of terminal illness? "Babyteeth" explores these heavy questions with the sincerity of a young adult novel, but without the "positive fluff" that often feels forced in the genre.
If you can put yourself in the shoes of a terminally ill patient who has just become smitten with her first (and potentially only) love, you’ll appreciate "Babyteeth" for exactly what it is. If you love tragic, unfiltered romance, this flick is for you. Here is why you should run to Tubi to stream it while you still can.
The plot: What is 'Babyteeth' about?
Milla (Eliza Scanlen) is a teenager living with terminal cancer. Her well-meaning but anxious parents, Henry (Ben Mendelsohn) and Anna (Essie Davis), dote on their daughter but are blindsided when she meets Moses (Toby Wallace), a small-time drug dealer. Milla is smitten immediately, but Moses’s fast-and-loose lifestyle and dangerous addictions give her parents serious pause.
On paper, it seems like a terrible idea for the pair to be together. Moses steals medication from Milla’s family and occasionally lets his addiction win out over his relationship. Yet, for the first time, Milla feels truly alive, even as her physical health continues to decline.
Her parents are eventually forced into a heartbreaking corner: do they support Milla’s relationship to give her happiness, or do they push Moses out of her life for her own safety? They want their daughter to experience true love with the little time she has left, leading to a delicate, often painful operation: living with Moses and his demons, even if it threatens to destroy them all.
Why you should stream 'Babyteeth' on Tubi right now
Too many stories about terminal illness featuring young leads suffer from toxic positivity or rely on stereotypes like the sassy, wiser-than-their-years teen. "Babyteeth" doesn't care to sanitize the experience, and that honesty makes it feel remarkably real. Moses isn’t "good" for Milla in any traditional sense, and even when he tries to make amends, the film doesn't shy away from his flaws.
But Milla’s feelings for Moses are the first thing that makes her feel more than just a patient. Her parents are pushed into impossible territory, caught between fear, the need for control, and the devastating realization that protecting their daughter might actually mean letting go. The film never rushes to tell you who is right; it leaves that for you to decide.
There is something undeniably special about your first love, no matter where you find it. It is difficult to accept that love might not last, but in Milla’s case, it is likely her first and last. You find yourself desperately wanting Moses to be better for her, but the film highlights the harsh reality: sometimes, people just can't change in time.
That is where "Babyteeth" shines: in the uncertainty of youth and the power of love, no matter what form it takes. If you’re ready to give yourself over to some seriously raw emotional power, make it this one. Just don’t forget the tissues.
Stream "Babyteeth" on Tubi for free
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