Brandwave

Hoyts vs Palace Cinemas:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Hoyts had more branded searches than Palace Cinemas among cinema chains in Australia. Hoyts had about 550,000 branded searches, while Palace Cinemas had 90,500. Hoyts made up 35.4% of all cinema chain searches we track, and Palace Cinemas accounted for 5.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cinema chains, Hoyts appeared in all five answers and Palace Cinemas in two. Hoyts was mentioned before Palace Cinemas in every answer.

Among cinema chains in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Hoyts, about 6 searches for every 1 for Palace Cinemas

Hoyts 550K searchesPalace Cinemas 90.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Hoyts, mentioned in every answer we collected

Hoyts in 5 of 5Palace Cinemas in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Hoyts, named ahead of Palace Cinemas in every answer

Hoyts first in 3Palace Cinemas never first

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Top cinema chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hoyts appeared in all five answers. Palace Cinemas was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Hoyts was listed before Palace Cinemas in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Hoyts1st
  2. Event Cinemas2nd
  3. Reading Cinemas3rd
  4. Palace Cinemas4th
  5. Village Cinemas5th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Hoyts5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Event Cinemas3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Reading Cinemas3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Village Cinemas2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Palace Cinemas2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cinema chains

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 22, 2026.

Is Hoyts or Palace Cinemas more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Hoyts and Palace Cinemas by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five cinema chains we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Hoyts and Palace Cinemas among cinema chains in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Hoyts, Palace Cinemas. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHoytsEvent CinemasVillage CinemasReading CinemasPalace Cinemas
Oct 202536.7%24.5%16.4%16.4%6%
Nov 202534.9%23.4%19.1%15.6%7%
Dec 202538.2%25.6%17.1%14%5.1%
Jan 202634.9%23.4%19.1%15.6%7%
Feb 202634.4%23%18.8%15.4%8.4%
Mar 202639.6%21.7%17.7%14.5%6.5%
Apr 202639.6%21.7%17.7%14.5%6.5%
May 202638.4%21%17.2%17.2%6.3%
Jun 202639.6%21.7%17.7%14.5%6.5%
Jul 202637.8%25.3%16.9%13.8%6.2%
Aug 202634.9%23.4%19.1%15.6%7%
Sep 202635.4%23.7%19.4%15.8%5.8%

How has the Hoyts and Palace Cinemas comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Hoyts was ahead of Palace Cinemas in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hoyts’ share of searches among cinema chains in Australia moved from 36.7% to 35.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 550K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Palace Cinemas’ share of searches among cinema chains in Australia moved from 6% to 5.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 90.5K.

How did search popularity change for Australia cinema chains in September 2026?

1 change

  1. In September 2026, Palace Cinemas lost share of searches among cinema chains in Australia, from 7% to 5.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hoyts’ and Palace Cinemas’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Hoyts

1 branded search term

  • hoyts

Palace Cinemas

1 branded search term

  • palace cinemas

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cinema chains

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