--- title: "Cinemas in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?" description: "Compare the cinema chains and independent cinemas New Zealanders book movie tickets with. Share of Search among Hoyts, Event Cinemas, Silky Otter, Reading Cinemas, Lido Cinema, Academy Cinemas, Lighthouse Cinema and The Embassy Theatre, the cinemas Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time." canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-cinema-chains" publisher: "Brandwave" --- # Cinemas in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search? Compare the cinema chains and independent cinemas New Zealanders book movie tickets with. Share of Search among Hoyts, Event Cinemas, Silky Otter, Reading Cinemas, Lido Cinema, Academy Cinemas, Lighthouse Cinema and The Embassy Theatre, the cinemas Brandwave compares in New Zealand, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time. ## Key facts - **Competitive set**: Cinemas - **Market**: New Zealand - **Brands compared**: 8 - **Month measured**: Aug 2026 - **Highest Share of Search**: Hoyts, 36.8% ## Which brand is most popular in search among cinemas in New Zealand? - In August 2026, Hoyts was the most searched among cinemas in New Zealand, with an estimated 274K branded searches and 36.8% estimated Share of Search within this set. - Event Cinemas is in 2nd place, 9.7 percentage points behind at 27.1% Share of Search. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Hoyts’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand increased from 35.2% to 36.8%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Event Cinemas’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand increased from 24.8% to 27.1%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Silky Otter’s estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand decreased from 18.7% to 14.8%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Reading Cinemas’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand increased from 12.9% to 14.3%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Lido Cinema’s estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand decreased from 4% to 3.1%. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Hoyts’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand peaked at 40.2% in December 2025 and was lowest at 35.2% in October 2025. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Event Cinemas’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand peaked at 27.1% in August 2026 and was lowest at 21.6% in January 2026. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Silky Otter’s estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand peaked at 19.5% in February 2026 and was lowest at 14.8% in August 2026. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Reading Cinemas’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand peaked at 15.1% in May 2026 and was lowest at 11.9% in March 2026. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Lido Cinema’s estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand peaked at 4.1% in January 2026 and was lowest at 2.7% in July 2026. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Academy Cinemas’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand peaked at 3.3% in June 2026 and was lowest at 1.7% in December 2025. - Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Academy Cinemas, Lighthouse Cinema and The Embassy Theatre held steady: their estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand each moved less than 0.5 percentage points. ## Compare search popularity between leading brands - [Hoyts vs Event Cinemas: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/event-cinemas-vs-hoyts): 36.8% against 27.1% Share of Search. - [Hoyts vs Silky Otter: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/hoyts-vs-silky-otter): 36.8% against 14.8% Share of Search. - [Hoyts vs Reading Cinemas: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/hoyts-vs-reading-cinemas): 36.8% against 14.3% Share of Search. - [Hoyts vs Lido Cinema: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/hoyts-vs-lido-cinema): 36.8% against 3.1% Share of Search. - [Event Cinemas vs Silky Otter: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/event-cinemas-vs-silky-otter): 27.1% against 14.8% Share of Search. - [Event Cinemas vs Reading Cinemas: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/event-cinemas-vs-reading-cinemas): 27.1% against 14.3% Share of Search. - [Event Cinemas vs Lido Cinema: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/event-cinemas-vs-lido-cinema): 27.1% against 3.1% Share of Search. - [Silky Otter vs Reading Cinemas: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/reading-cinemas-vs-silky-otter): 14.8% against 14.3% Share of Search. - [Silky Otter vs Lido Cinema: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/lido-cinema-vs-silky-otter): 14.8% against 3.1% Share of Search. - [Reading Cinemas vs Lido Cinema: compare search popularity](/demand/nz/compare/lido-cinema-vs-reading-cinemas): 14.3% against 3.1% Share of Search. ## How did search popularity change for New Zealand cinemas in August 2026? - In August 2026, Hoyts lost estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand, from 37.3% to 36.8%. - Event Cinemas’ estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 24.1% to 27.1% in August 2026. - Silky Otter’s estimated Share of Search among cinemas in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 17.4% to 14.8% in August 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for The Embassy Theatre in New Zealand rose 94.1% over 11 measured months, from 170 to 330 in August 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Reading Cinemas in New Zealand rose 65.9% over 11 measured months, from 64.1K to 106K in August 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Academy Cinemas in New Zealand rose 49% over 11 measured months, from 12.8K to 19.1K in August 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Lighthouse Cinema in New Zealand rose 19.4% over 11 measured months, from 8.6K to 10.2K in August 2026. - Estimated monthly branded searches for Lido Cinema in New Zealand rose 16% over 11 measured months, from 20K to 23.2K in August 2026. ## Share of Search ranking | Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Hoyts | 36.8% | 274K | -15.6% | Hoyts | | 2 | Event Cinemas | 27.1% | 202K | -13.8% | Event Cinemas | | 3 | Silky Otter | 14.8% | 111K | -16.9% | Silky Otter | | 4 | Reading Cinemas | 14.3% | 106K | -16.5% | Reading Cinemas | | 5 | Lido Cinema | 3.1% | 23.2K | -0.7% | Lido Cinema | | 6 | Academy Cinemas | 2.6% | 19.1K | -1.5% | Academy Cinemas | | 7 | Lighthouse Cinema | 1.4% | 10.2K | +20.1% | Lighthouse Cinema | | 8 | The Embassy Theatre | 0.04% | 330 | -31.3% | The Embassy Theatre | ## Historical estimated branded-search demand | Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Oct 2025 | Hoyts | 175K | 35.2% | 1 | | Oct 2025 | Event Cinemas | 123K | 24.8% | 2 | | Oct 2025 | Silky Otter | 93K | 18.7% | 3 | | Oct 2025 | Reading Cinemas | 64.1K | 12.9% | 4 | | Oct 2025 | Lido Cinema | 20K | 4% | 5 | | Oct 2025 | Academy Cinemas | 12.8K | 2.6% | 6 | | Oct 2025 | Lighthouse Cinema | 8.6K | 1.7% | 7 | | Oct 2025 | The Embassy Theatre | 170 | 0.03% | 8 | | Nov 2025 | Hoyts | 189K | 38% | 1 | | Nov 2025 | Event Cinemas | 121K | 24.4% | 2 | | Nov 2025 | Silky Otter | 85.8K | 17.3% | 3 | | Nov 2025 | Reading Cinemas | 64K | 12.9% | 4 | | Nov 2025 | Lido Cinema | 15.6K | 3.1% | 5 | | Nov 2025 | Academy Cinemas | 12.8K | 2.6% | 6 | | Nov 2025 | Lighthouse Cinema | 8.4K | 1.7% | 7 | | Nov 2025 | The Embassy Theatre | 170 | 0.03% | 8 | | Dec 2025 | Hoyts | 301K | 40.2% | 1 | | Dec 2025 | Event Cinemas | 189K | 25.3% | 2 | | Dec 2025 | Silky Otter | 116K | 15.5% | 3 | | Dec 2025 | Reading Cinemas | 98.4K | 13.1% | 4 | | Dec 2025 | Lido Cinema | 20.8K | 2.8% | 5 | | Dec 2025 | Academy Cinemas | 12.8K | 1.7% | 6 | | Dec 2025 | Lighthouse Cinema | 10.3K | 1.4% | 7 | | Dec 2025 | The Embassy Theatre | 180 | 0.02% | 8 | | Jan 2026 | Hoyts | 275K | 38.2% | 1 | | Jan 2026 | Event Cinemas | 156K | 21.6% | 2 | | Jan 2026 | Silky Otter | 136K | 18.9% | 3 | | Jan 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 97.1K | 13.5% | 4 | | Jan 2026 | Lido Cinema | 29.7K | 4.1% | 5 | | Jan 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 15.8K | 2.2% | 6 | | Jan 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 10.3K | 1.4% | 7 | | Jan 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 220 | 0.03% | 8 | | Feb 2026 | Hoyts | 172K | 36% | 1 | | Feb 2026 | Event Cinemas | 107K | 22.3% | 2 | | Feb 2026 | Silky Otter | 93.3K | 19.5% | 3 | | Feb 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 65.1K | 13.6% | 4 | | Feb 2026 | Lido Cinema | 19.7K | 4.1% | 5 | | Feb 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 12.8K | 2.7% | 6 | | Feb 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 8.4K | 1.8% | 7 | | Feb 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 140 | 0.03% | 8 | | Mar 2026 | Hoyts | 213K | 38.5% | 1 | | Mar 2026 | Event Cinemas | 134K | 24.3% | 2 | | Mar 2026 | Silky Otter | 94.1K | 17.1% | 3 | | Mar 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 65.6K | 11.9% | 4 | | Mar 2026 | Lido Cinema | 21.3K | 3.9% | 5 | | Mar 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 15.7K | 2.8% | 6 | | Mar 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 8.4K | 1.5% | 7 | | Mar 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 260 | 0.05% | 8 | | Apr 2026 | Hoyts | 266K | 37.2% | 1 | | Apr 2026 | Event Cinemas | 185K | 25.8% | 2 | | Apr 2026 | Silky Otter | 115K | 16% | 3 | | Apr 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 96.3K | 13.4% | 4 | | Apr 2026 | Lido Cinema | 24.7K | 3.4% | 5 | | Apr 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 19.1K | 2.7% | 6 | | Apr 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 10.4K | 1.5% | 7 | | Apr 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 330 | 0.05% | 8 | | May 2026 | Hoyts | 277K | 35.8% | 1 | | May 2026 | Event Cinemas | 187K | 24.1% | 2 | | May 2026 | Silky Otter | 135K | 17.4% | 3 | | May 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 117K | 15.1% | 4 | | May 2026 | Lido Cinema | 28.8K | 3.7% | 5 | | May 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 19.1K | 2.5% | 6 | | May 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 10.3K | 1.3% | 7 | | May 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 330 | 0.04% | 8 | | Jun 2026 | Hoyts | 258K | 36.1% | 1 | | Jun 2026 | Event Cinemas | 182K | 25.5% | 2 | | Jun 2026 | Silky Otter | 122K | 17.1% | 3 | | Jun 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 95.7K | 13.4% | 4 | | Jun 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 23.8K | 3.3% | 5 | | Jun 2026 | Lido Cinema | 23.5K | 3.3% | 6 | | Jun 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 8.4K | 1.2% | 7 | | Jun 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 270 | 0.04% | 8 | | Jul 2026 | Hoyts | 325K | 37.3% | 1 | | Jul 2026 | Event Cinemas | 235K | 26.9% | 2 | | Jul 2026 | Silky Otter | 133K | 15.3% | 3 | | Jul 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 127K | 14.6% | 4 | | Jul 2026 | Lido Cinema | 23.4K | 2.7% | 5 | | Jul 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 19.4K | 2.2% | 6 | | Jul 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 8.5K | 0.98% | 7 | | Jul 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 480 | 0.06% | 8 | | Aug 2026 | Hoyts | 274K | 36.8% | 1 | | Aug 2026 | Event Cinemas | 202K | 27.1% | 2 | | Aug 2026 | Silky Otter | 111K | 14.8% | 3 | | Aug 2026 | Reading Cinemas | 106K | 14.3% | 4 | | Aug 2026 | Lido Cinema | 23.2K | 3.1% | 5 | | Aug 2026 | Academy Cinemas | 19.1K | 2.6% | 6 | | Aug 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | 10.2K | 1.4% | 7 | | Aug 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | 330 | 0.04% | 8 | | Sep 2026 | Academy Cinemas | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Event Cinemas | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Hoyts | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Lido Cinema | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Lighthouse Cinema | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Reading Cinemas | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | Silky Otter | — | — | — | | Sep 2026 | The Embassy Theatre | — | — | — | ## What is being compared - **Academy Cinemas**: Measured on the search terms “academy cinemas”, “academy cinemas near me”, “academy cinemas nz”, “academycinemas” and “academycinemas co nz”, summed into one figure. - **Event Cinemas**: Measured on the search terms “aa event cinemas”, “avatar event cinemas”, “broadway event cinemas”, “city event cinemas”, “coastlands event cinemas”, “event cinemas”, “event cinemas bayfair”, “event cinemas botany”, “event cinemas coastlands”, “event cinemas food”, “event cinemas movies”, “event cinemas near me”, “event cinemas new lynn”, “event cinemas nz”, “event cinemas online”, “event cinemas queen street”, “event cinemas session times”, “event cinemas te awa”, “event cinemas ticket prices”, “event cinemas tickets”, “event cinemas vmax”, “event cinemas westgate”, “eventcinemas”, “eventcinemas co nz”, “eventcinemas movies”, “eventcinemas nz”, “movie tickets event cinemas” and “movies event cinemas”, summed into one figure. - **Hoyts**: Measured on the search terms “entx hoyts”, “hoyts”, “hoyts berkeley cinemas”, “hoyts botany”, “hoyts botany downs”, “hoyts cinema”, “hoyts co nz”, “hoyts entx”, “hoyts films”, “hoyts hibiscus”, “hoyts lux”, “hoyts metro”, “hoyts near me”, “hoyts new zealand”, “hoyts nz”, “hoyts online”, “hoyts ric”, “hoyts session times”, “hoyts sylvia park”, “hoyts te awa” and “hoyts tickets”, summed into one figure. - **Lido Cinema**: Measured on the search terms “lido cinema”, “lido cinema movies”, “lido cinema near me”, “lido cinema new zealand”, “lido cinema now showing”, “lido cinema nz”, “lido cinema session times”, “lido cinema showtimes”, “lido cinema tickets”, “lidocinema” and “the lido cinema”, summed into one figure. - **Lighthouse Cinema**: Measured on the search terms “lighthouse cinema”, “lighthouse cinema films”, “lighthouse cinema near me”, “lighthouse cinema nz”, “lighthouse cinema schedule”, “lighthouse cinema tickets”, “lighthousecinema”, “lighthousecinema co nz” and “the lighthouse cinema”, summed into one figure. - **Reading Cinemas**: Measured on the search terms “movie times at reading cinemas”, “prices reading cinemas”, “reading cinemas”, “reading cinemas cost of tickets”, “reading cinemas courtenay”, “reading cinemas lynnmall”, “reading cinemas movies”, “reading cinemas near me”, “reading cinemas new lynn movie times”, “reading cinemas new lynn now showing”, “reading cinemas nz”, “reading cinemas session times”, “reading cinemas the palms”, “reading cinemas tickets”, “readingcinemas”, “readingcinemas co nz”, “readingcinemas nz” and “www reading cinemas”, summed into one figure. - **Silky Otter**: Measured on the search terms “i love mondays silky otter”, “movies silky otter”, “silky otter cinema”, “silky otter cinema nelson”, “silky otter cinema richmond”, “silky otter deals”, “silky otter food”, “silky otter gift card”, “silky otter i love mondays”, “silky otter menu”, “silky otter movie”, “silky otter movie theatre”, “silky otter near me”, “silky otter nelson”, “silky otter nz”, “silky otter ponsonby”, “silky otter prices”, “silky otter richmond”, “silky otter richmond nelson”, “silky otter session times”, “silky otter ticket prices”, “silky otter tickets”, “silky otter voucher”, “silkyotter”, “silkyotter co nz”, “silkyotter nz” and “the silky otter”, summed into one figure. - **The Embassy Theatre**: Measured on the search terms “the embassy theatre” and “the embassy theatre tickets”, summed into one figure. - [Academy Cinemas](/demand/nz/brands/academy-cinemas) - [Event Cinemas](/demand/nz/brands/event-cinemas) - [Hoyts](/demand/nz/brands/hoyts) - [Lido Cinema](/demand/nz/brands/lido-cinema) - [Lighthouse Cinema](/demand/nz/brands/lighthouse-cinema) - [Reading Cinemas](/demand/nz/brands/reading-cinemas) - [Silky Otter](/demand/nz/brands/silky-otter) - [The Embassy Theatre](/demand/nz/brands/the-embassy-theatre) ## Methodology - [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused. ## Frequently asked questions ### Which brand is most popular in search among cinemas in New Zealand? In August 2026, Hoyts was the most searched among cinemas in New Zealand, with an estimated 274K branded searches and 36.8% estimated Share of Search within this set. ## Cite this page Brandwave. "Cinemas in New Zealand: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-cinema-chains This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/nz/categories/nz-cinema-chains. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.