A promotional poster for the film features a street sign with a one eye logo and a phone number to call to report "abnormal activity". The number is 1-800-517-5890 and when called, a recorded message with a woman's voice would say, "Thank you for calling the abnormal defense hotline, provided by the Department of Homeland Security." The recorded message at first urged others to be on the lookout for "freaks" and it said that you can leave a message to report any abnormal activity from freaks. A few days later, the recorded message was changed to warn others to stay away from an upcoming San Diego Comic Con "free underground prescreening of Freaks" on July 18, 2019.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2018.