Brandwave

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

In October 2026, Event Cinemas had more branded searches than Reading Cinemas among cinemas in New Zealand. Event Cinemas had about 107,000 branded searches, while Reading Cinemas had 60,500. Event Cinemas made up 21.3% of all cinema searches we track, and Reading Cinemas accounted for 12%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cinemas, Event Cinemas appeared in two of the three answers and Reading Cinemas in none.

Among cinemas in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Event Cinemas, about 78% more searches than Reading Cinemas

Event Cinemas 107K searchesReading Cinemas 60.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Event Cinemas, mentioned in 2 of 3 answers, Reading Cinemas in 0

Event Cinemas in 2 of 3Reading Cinemas in 0 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Event Cinemas, the only one of the two named

Event Cinemas first in 2Reading Cinemas never named

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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. Reading Cinemas did not appear in any of the 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 Reading Cinemas more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Event Cinemas and Reading Cinemas 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 Reading Cinemas among cinemas in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Event Cinemas, Reading 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 Reading Cinemas changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Event Cinemas was ahead of Reading 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, Reading Cinemas’ share of searches among cinemas in New Zealand moved from 12.5% to 12%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 58.7K to 60.5K.

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

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Reading Cinemas lost share of searches among cinemas in New Zealand, from 15.5% to 12%.

  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 Reading Cinemas’ branded searches counted?

22 search terms

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

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

Reading Cinemas

6 branded search terms

  • reading cinemas
  • reading cinemas courtenay
  • reading cinemas lynnmall
  • reading cinemas movies
  • reading cinemas tickets
  • readingcinemas

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cinemas

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