Brandwave

Event Cinemas vs Hoyts:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Hoyts had more branded searches than Event Cinemas among cinemas in New Zealand. Hoyts had about 201,000 branded searches, while Event Cinemas had 107,000. Hoyts made up 39.9% of all cinema searches we track, and Event Cinemas accounted for 21.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cinemas, Event Cinemas appeared in two of the three answers and Hoyts in one. Event Cinemas was mentioned before Hoyts in two out of three answers.

Among cinemas in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Hoyts, about 87% more searches than Event Cinemas

Hoyts 201K searchesEvent Cinemas 107K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Event Cinemas, mentioned in 2 of 3 answers, Hoyts in 1

Event Cinemas in 2 of 3Hoyts in 1 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

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

Event Cinemas first in 2Hoyts first in 1

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Top cinemas in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Event Cinemas was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Hoyts was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. Event Cinemas was listed before Hoyts in two out of three answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Event Cinemas1st
  2. Lumière Cinemas2nd
  3. Silky Otter3rd
  4. The Embassy Theatre4th
  5. Hoyts5th
  6. Reading Cinemas–
  7. Lido Cinema–
  8. Academy Cinemas–
  9. Lighthouse Cinema–

Mentioned by AI

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

See every answer about cinemas

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Is Event Cinemas or Hoyts more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Event Cinemas and Hoyts by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine cinemas we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Event Cinemas and Hoyts among cinemas in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthHoytsEvent CinemasSilky OtterReading CinemasLido CinemaAcademy CinemasLumière CinemasLighthouse CinemaThe Embassy Theatre
Nov 202539.6%21.8%17.4%12.5%2.6%2.6%1.7%1.8%0.04%
Dec 202542%22.8%15.5%12.7%2.1%1.7%1.7%1.4%0.03%
Jan 202639.6%19.6%18.8%12.8%3.3%2.2%2.2%1.5%0.03%
Feb 202637.3%19.7%19.8%13%3.4%2.7%2.2%1.9%0.03%
Mar 202640.8%21%17.3%11.4%3%2.9%1.9%1.6%0.05%
Apr 202638.6%23.4%16.1%13%2.8%2.7%1.8%1.5%0.05%
May 202637.1%22%17.5%14.6%3.2%2.5%1.7%1.4%0.05%
Jun 202637.9%23.1%17.3%12.9%2.8%3.3%1.5%1.2%0.04%
Jul 202640.1%23.7%15.9%13.4%2.3%2.3%1.2%1.1%0.06%
Aug 202639.9%23.1%15.6%13%2.7%2.7%1.5%1.5%0.05%
Sep 202636.7%22.4%17.1%15.5%2.7%2.6%1.7%1.2%0.07%
Oct 202639.9%21.3%16.2%12%3%2.9%2.9%1.7%0.04%

How has branded search for Event Cinemas and Hoyts changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Hoyts was ahead of Event Cinemas in every measured month of the 12 months ending October 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Event Cinemas’ share of searches among cinemas in New Zealand moved from 21.8% to 21.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 103K to 107K.
  • Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Hoyts’ share of searches among cinemas in New Zealand moved from 39.6% to 39.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 187K to 201K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand cinemas in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Hoyts gained share of searches among cinemas in New Zealand, from 36.7% to 39.9%.

  2. In October 2026, Event Cinemas lost share of searches among cinemas in New Zealand, from 22.4% to 21.3%.

How are Event Cinemas’ and Hoyts’ branded searches counted?

32 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Event Cinemas’ and Hoyts’ 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.

Event Cinemas

16 branded 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 tickets
  • event cinemas westgate
  • eventcinemas
  • eventcinemas movies
  • movies event cinemas

Hoyts

16 branded search terms

  • entx hoyts
  • hoyts
  • hoyts berkeley cinemas
  • hoyts botany
  • hoyts botany downs
  • hoyts cinema
  • hoyts entx
  • hoyts films
  • hoyts hibiscus
  • hoyts lux
  • hoyts metro
  • hoyts ric
  • hoyts session times
  • hoyts sylvia park
  • hoyts te awa
  • hoyts tickets

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cinemas

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