Petras also revealed that she "had cried all [her] tears [in the last single, 'Reminds Me' and mixtape, Clarity] and moved on, so this is a reflection of how [she's] been feeling".

Petras described the track as a "pick-me-up pop song" which displays a "punchy mix of synth-bass squirts and tropical-funk guitar that lives up to its namesake".

[8] Music critic Thomas Bleach named the song a "bonafide banger" and said it "deserves to be embraced on mainstream radio.

"[9] Maxamillion Polo from Ones to Watch wrote that "'Malibu' is Petras at her finest" and called the song "a euphoric joyride from start to finish".

Filmed in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic,[11] it features appearances from Paris Hilton, Demi Lovato, Jonathan Van Ness, Madelaine Petsch, Todrick Hall, Pabllo Vittar, Jessie J, Charli XCX, Aly & AJ, Scott Hoying, Aquaria, Loren Gray, Nikita Dragun, Amanda Lepore, Dorian Electra, Bowen Yang, Slayyyter, and Teddy Quinlivan.