Brandwave

Academy Cinemas vs Lumière Cinemas:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Academy Cinemas and Lumière Cinemas were level in searches among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand, with an estimated 14.8K branded searches each, at 17.7% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about neighbourhood cinemas, Academy Cinemas and Lumière Cinemas each appeared in two of the three answers. Academy Cinemas and Lumière Cinemas were each mentioned first in one of the two answers.

Among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Academy Cinemas and Lumière Cinemas are searched for about as often as each other.

Academy Cinemas 14.8K searchesLumière Cinemas 14.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 3 answers.

Academy Cinemas in 2 of 3Lumière Cinemas in 2 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

Academy Cinemas first in 1Lumière Cinemas first in 1

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Top neighbourhood cinemas in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Academy Cinemas and Lumière Cinemas were each mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Academy Cinemas and Lumière Cinemas were each listed first in one of the two answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Roxy Cinema1st
  2. Academy Cinemas2nd
  3. Bridgeway Cinemas3rd
  4. The Vic Devonport4th
  5. Lumière Cinemas5th
  6. Monterey Cinema–
  7. Embassy 3 Cinemas–
  8. Starlight Cinema–
  9. Luxe Cinemas–

Mentioned by AI

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

See every answer about neighbourhood 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 21, 2026.

Is Academy Cinemas or Lumière Cinemas more popular in search?

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

Academy Cinemas and Lumière Cinemas among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMonterey CinemaAcademy CinemasLumière CinemasBridgeway CinemasRoxy CinemaEmbassy 3 CinemasStarlight CinemaLuxe CinemasThe Vic Devonport
Nov 202523.6%18.7%12.5%18.7%8.8%8.4%0.09%4.7%4.5%
Dec 202524.9%14.1%14.1%17.2%8.5%11.6%0.1%4.4%5.2%
Jan 202624.7%14.8%14.8%18.1%7.8%10%0.09%5.4%4.5%
Feb 202620%17.8%14.6%17.8%9.3%9.8%0.16%5.2%5.4%
Mar 202621.7%19.4%13%15.9%8.3%8.7%1.3%5.9%5.8%
Apr 202622.2%17.5%11.7%14.3%8.2%9.7%7.9%4.8%3.5%
May 202621.1%16.7%11.1%16.7%8.3%9.2%7.5%5.3%4.1%
Jun 202621%21.7%9.7%17.7%8.1%8%6.5%3.8%3.5%
Jul 202622.8%18%9.9%14.7%9.5%10%8.1%3.4%3.6%
Aug 202620.9%20.2%11.1%16.5%7%9.1%7.4%3.7%4%
Sep 202623.4%18.5%12.4%15.1%7.9%8.4%6.8%3.9%3.6%
Oct 202619.8%17.7%17.7%14.5%8.2%8%5.3%4.4%4.4%

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

3 findings

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

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Lumière Cinemas overtook Bridgeway Cinemas to rank 3rd among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand, with 17.7% of the searches.

  2. In October 2026, Academy Cinemas lost share of searches among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand, from 18.5% to 17.7%.

How are Academy Cinemas’ and Lumière Cinemas’ branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Academy Cinemas’ and Lumière 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.

Academy Cinemas

2 branded search terms

  • academy cinemas
  • academycinemas

Lumière Cinemas

2 branded search terms

  • lumiere cinema
  • lumiere cinemas

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among neighbourhood cinemas

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