The album was originally expected to release in early 2020 after Baker's repeated teasers in late 2019 and early 2020. The
COVID-19 pandemic would delay album release plans. Both songs became bonus tracks for a
Target store special edition of the album. The album's first formal single, "
Bloody Valentine" was released on May 1, 2020. As of early August, the song had over 30 million
YouTube views. A
music video was released a week later, which involved the band performing in front of a large crowd of aliens. A third single, "
My Ex's Best Friend" featuring
Blackbear, was released on August 7, 2020, and has peaked at number 20 on the US
Billboard all-format
Hot 100 chart. On September 7, the album's tracklist and cover art were released. However, later in the day, it was found that the album artwork - a sketch of a man falling down - unbeknownst to Baker, was closely modeled after a photograph that they did not have the legal rights to use, causing Baker to apologize and announce that a new album cover would be created. He later noted he had signed thousands of copies of the album with the outdated album artwork. The album was released on September 25, 2020, In September 29, a deluxe edition of the album, dubbed the "Sold Out" edition, was released, featuring four new songs, the band's "Misery Business" cover, and an acoustic rendition of "Bloody Valentine". Concurrently, a music video for the track "Drunk Face" was also released.
Downfalls High starred in the film adaptation of the album. The release of a movie based on the album was first announced by Baker on November 22, 2020. The film, titled
Downfalls High was premiered at 6 p.m. PST on January 15, 2021, through
Facebook. The film stars
Chase Hudson as Fenix, a quiet high schooler, and
Sydney Sweeney as the school's popular girl, Scarlett, as they navigate the beginnings of their romantic relationship. It begins following Fenix, as he is in a
psychiatric hospital, before cutting to a news report that states that a student at Downfalls High School, whose music had recently gained success, had cut his ear off at graduation. It then flashes back to eight months prior, as Fenix can be seen getting bullied by a jock (
Jaden Hossler). Scarlett soon leaves her popular friends to spend time with Fenix, his friend Jimmy (
Jimmy Bennett) and Jimmy's girlfriend (Caroline Miner Smith), who had already dropped out of school. Scarlett soon buys Fenix a guitar and is revealed to be pregnant, before being involved in a car accident that kills her, without Fenix knowing about her pregnancy. Through his grieving, Fenix forms the band Pink Switchblade using the guitar, with Jimmy and Jimmy's friend (
Landon Barker). After the band's first performance, Scarlett's best friend Tiffany (
Maggie Lindemann) romantically pursues Fenix, however he turns her away. Fenix soon discovers Scarlett's pregnancy and decides to chop his ear off at his graduation as an act of despair. Directed by Baker and
Derek Smith, it was filmed in four days during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The film also includes appearances from
Iann Dior,
Omer Fedi,
Trippie Redd and
Blackbear. When Smith originally pitched casting Hudson as the film's protagonist, Baker had reservations due to his lack of a background in acting. In an interview with
Metro, Smith stated that the main reason for this casting choice was that he wanted to style Hudson's clothing, stating "My first stipulation to working on any project within the last three years was that I can style it. I can’t tell you how fucking much I hate style when I look at TV and I see people literally dressing horribly". Much of the clothes worn by actors throughout the film were a part of Smith and Baker's then-unreleased clothing line "No Safety". Many were also the pair's own personal clothing.
NME rated the film 4/5 stars, stating "In a world of content for content's sake – films have often been used by artists try and extend the lifespan of an album –
Downfalls High feels driven by purpose". Whereas,
Exclaim! rated it 4/10 and described it as "a 50-minute cringefest that rings hollow."
Tour Baker announced via social media that he would be going on tour in further promotion on the album during the fall of 2021 in the Tickets to My Downfall U.S. Tour, joined by Caroles Daughter,
Jxdn, and
KennyHoopla. The tour dates were only announced in North America due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the album would continue to be promoted internationally in the summer of 2022 via the higher profile
Mainstream Sellout Tour. In addition, Baker also announced he would be joining the Kings of Leon and Black Pumas at the three-day NFL Draft from April 29 to May 1, 2021. ==Critical reception==