But Darkest Hour and Three Billboards have collectively opened bigger than La La Land, and do not appear to be hurting each other.
It was the date nabbed by La La Land last year, by The Revenant in 2016 and 12 Years a Slave in 2014.
Darkest Hour has also opened bigger than The King’s Speech (2011), which kicked off with £3.52m including £227,000 in previews, albeit not adjusted for inflation.
The 2018 awards-bait titles always appeared to lack an equivalent to La La Land, which debuted with £6.60m including £944,000 in previews and eventually passed £30m.