Brandwave

Hoyts vs Reading Cinemas:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Hoyts had more branded searches than Reading Cinemas among cinema chains in Australia. Hoyts had about 550,000 branded searches, while Reading Cinemas had 246,000. Hoyts made up 35.4% of all cinema chain searches we track, and Reading Cinemas accounted for 15.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cinema chains, Hoyts appeared in all five answers and Reading Cinemas in three. Hoyts was mentioned before Reading Cinemas in two out of three answers.

Among cinema chains in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Hoyts, about 2 searches for every 1 for Reading Cinemas

Hoyts 550K searchesReading Cinemas 246K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Hoyts, mentioned in every answer we collected

Hoyts in 5 of 5Reading Cinemas in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Hoyts, named ahead of Reading Cinemas in 2 of 3 answers

Hoyts first in 2Reading Cinemas first in 1

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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. Reading Cinemas was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Hoyts was listed before Reading Cinemas in two out of three answers.

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 Reading Cinemas more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Hoyts and Reading 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 Reading Cinemas among cinema chains in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Hoyts, Reading 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 Reading Cinemas comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Hoyts was ahead of Reading 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, Reading Cinemas’ share of searches among cinema chains in Australia moved from 16.4% to 15.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 246K.

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

0 changes

Neither Hoyts nor Reading Cinemas moved beyond provider rounding among cinema chains in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hoyts’ and Reading 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

Reading Cinemas

1 branded search term

  • reading cinemas

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cinema chains

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