Brandwave

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

In October 2026, Monterey Cinema had more branded searches than Academy Cinemas among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand. Monterey Cinema had about 16,500 branded searches, while Academy Cinemas had 14,800. Monterey Cinema made up 19.8% of all neighbourhood cinema searches we track, and Academy Cinemas accounted for 17.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about neighbourhood cinemas, Academy Cinemas appeared in two of the three answers and Monterey Cinema in none.

Among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Monterey Cinema, about 12% more searches than Academy Cinemas

Monterey Cinema 16.5K searchesAcademy Cinemas 14.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Academy Cinemas, mentioned in 2 of 3 answers, Monterey Cinema in 0

Academy Cinemas in 2 of 3Monterey Cinema in 0 of 3

Who does AI recommend more?

Academy Cinemas, the only one of the two named

Academy Cinemas first in 2Monterey Cinema never named

Follow Academy Cinemas vs Monterey Cinema and get free monthly updates on what changed

By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy

Track your brand against a rival →

Top neighbourhood cinemas in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Academy Cinemas was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Monterey Cinema 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. 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 Monterey Cinema more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Academy Cinemas and Monterey Cinema 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 Monterey Cinema among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Monterey Cinema, Academy 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 Monterey Cinema 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, Monterey Cinema lost share of searches among neighbourhood cinemas in New Zealand, from 23.4% to 19.8%.

  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 Monterey Cinema’s branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Academy Cinemas’ and Monterey Cinema’s 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

Monterey Cinema

4 branded search terms

  • monterey cinema
  • monterey cinema movies
  • monterey howick
  • montereycinema

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among neighbourhood cinemas

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Put your own brand in this comparison

Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.

Start free