Reading Cinemas
A cinema exhibition brand operating multiplexes in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Reading Cinemas is an international cinema exhibition brand owned by Reading International, Inc. It operates movie theatres in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, where it presents predominantly mainstream theatrical releases through multiplex and cinema-complex formats. The brand is part of a wider entertainment and property group whose activities also include live theatre and real estate interests. The brand’s origins are connected to the transformation of the former Reading Company. After the Reading Company disposed of its railroad assets and rolling stock in 1976, the remaining organization held a portfolio of real estate. During the late 1980s, Los Angeles lawyer James Cotter acquired the company through his holding company, the Craig Corporation. Over the following decade, Cotter developed the business around property ownership, cinema exhibition, and live theatre operations. Although the Reading name originated in the northeastern United States, the group’s later operating interests became geographically dispersed. Reading Cinemas entered the Australian market in 1995 and expanded into New Zealand in 1997. In both countries, the business developed cinema chains under the Reading banner, generally using multiplex venues focused on commercial film releases. These operations became the most visible expression of the Reading brand internationally. The company also maintained cinema interests in the United States, including an art-house venue in New York City that became the Angelika Film Center, as well as multiplex operations in Puerto Rico. Angelika is a related but separately branded cinema business rather than simply another Reading Cinemas location. The corporate structure changed during the 1990s. In 1996, Cotter reorganized the business as Reading Entertainment, a Delaware corporation. On December 31, 2001, Reading Entertainment and the Craig Corporation merged with Citadel Holding Corporation, another company associated with Cotter. The resulting corporate history links Reading Cinemas to a broader group rather than to a standalone cinema company established independently in each country. Following James Cotter’s death in 2014, disputes concerning his investment in the company and the succession of control led to several years of litigation involving his designated successor, his son James Cotter Jr., and his daughters Ellen and Margaret. In 2015, James Cotter Jr. was removed from his leadership position by his sisters and a majority of the Reading International board. Ellen Cotter was subsequently named chief executive officer of Reading International. A significant recent issue concerned the historic Wellington cinema building in New Zealand. The venue had been closed since 2019. In 2023, Wellington’s mayor and city council voted to authorize council staff to negotiate a NZ$32 million agreement intended to refurbish and earthquake-strengthen the building. In April 2024, Wellington City Council withdrew from the proposed agreement, citing Reading’s inability to provide its share of the required investment. This development affected the future of the Wellington venue but did not represent a general withdrawal of Reading Cinemas from its operating markets. Reading Cinemas therefore combines a consumer-facing cinema brand with a parent group involved in entertainment properties and real estate. Its core proposition is the operation of physical theatres that bring current film releases to audiences, supplemented in the broader Reading International portfolio by specialized cinema brands and live-performance venues.
History
Reading Cinemas developed from the post-railroad transformation of the Reading Company. After selling its railroad assets and rolling stock in 1976, the former railroad company retained substantial real estate interests. In the late 1980s, Los Angeles lawyer James Cotter acquired the company through the Craig Corporation. Under Cotter’s direction, the business increasingly concentrated on real estate, cinema exhibition, and live theatre rather than transportation. During the 1990s, the group expanded beyond its historical Pennsylvania associations. Reading entered Australia in 1995 and New Zealand in 1997, establishing cinema chains that used the Reading name and screened mainstream films. These international operations became the principal consumer-facing identity of Reading Cinemas. In the United States, the group pursued a mixed strategy. It acquired an art-house cinema in New York City’s historic Cable Building in 1996; the venue operated as the Angelika Film Center, a related brand owned by the group. Reading also acquired and expanded multiplex cinema operations in Puerto Rico. The corporate organization was revised in 1996, when Cotter reorganized the business as Reading Entertainment, a Delaware corporation. On December 31, 2001, Reading Entertainment and the Craig Corporation merged into and with Citadel Holding Corporation, another Cotter-related company. The resulting structure placed cinema exhibition alongside other entertainment and property activities. Reading International’s portfolio also included New York live-theatre properties, including the Minetta Lane Theatre and the Orpheum Theatre. James Cotter died in August 2014. His investment in the company was placed in trusts, and the succession arrangements produced extended litigation involving his designated successor, his son James Cotter Jr., and his daughters Ellen and Margaret. In 2015, Cotter Jr. was removed from his position by his sisters and a majority of the Reading International board. Ellen Cotter subsequently became chief executive officer of Reading International. The Wellington operation became a notable property and civic issue in the 2020s. The historic Wellington theatre building had been closed since 2019. In 2023, Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau and the Wellington City Council supported giving council staff authority to negotiate a NZ$32 million refurbishment and earthquake-strengthening agreement. The proposal depended on Reading contributing part of the investment. In April 2024, the council exited the agreement, citing Reading’s inability to fund its share. The episode highlighted the capital requirements involved in maintaining historic cinema properties, while Reading Cinemas continued to be described as an operating group in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
- 2024
Wellington Council withdraws from proposed agreement
[1]In April, Wellington City Council exited the proposed agreement, citing Reading’s inability to provide its share of the investment.
- 2023
Wellington redevelopment negotiations authorized
[1]Wellington City Council authorized staff to negotiate a NZ$32 million refurbishment and earthquake-strengthening agreement for the historic Wellington cinema building.
- 2015
Ellen Cotter becomes chief executive
[1]James Cotter Jr. was removed from his leadership position, and Ellen Cotter was subsequently named chief executive officer of Reading International.
- 2014
Death of James Cotter
[1]James Cotter died in August, after which ownership and succession arrangements became the subject of extended family litigation.
- 2001
Merger with Citadel Holding Corporation
[1]On December 31, Reading Entertainment and Craig Corporation merged with and into Citadel Holding Corporation.
- 1997
Entry into New Zealand
[1]Reading expanded into New Zealand with cinemas operating under the Reading name.
- 1996
Reading Entertainment reorganization
[1]The group was reorganized as Reading Entertainment, a Delaware corporation.
- 1996
Acquisition of New York art-house cinema
[1]The group acquired an art-house theatre in New York City’s Cable Building that operated as the Angelika Film Center.
- 1995
Entry into Australia
[1]Reading began operating in Australia, developing cinema venues under the Reading banner.
- 1980
James Cotter acquires the Reading Company through Craig Corporation
[1]In the late 1980s, Los Angeles lawyer James Cotter acquired the former railroad company through his holding company, the Craig Corporation.
Products and positioning
A regional international cinema operator focused on accessible theatrical film exhibition through multiplex venues, with a wider corporate connection to specialized cinemas, live theatre, and entertainment property.
Cinema exhibition
Reading Cinemas multiplexes
The core Reading Cinemas offering is the operation of multiplex and cinema-complex venues in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. These locations primarily exhibit current mainstream theatrical releases and provide audiences with conventional cinema services, including scheduled screenings and associated concessions. The brand’s geographic footprint reflects the international expansion undertaken during the 1990s.
Art-house cinema · 1996
Angelika Film Center
Angelika Film Center is a related cinema brand acquired by the wider Reading group in 1996 through its New York venue in the historic Cable Building. It represents the group’s specialized and art-house cinema activity rather than a standard Reading Cinemas-branded multiplex. The brand is owned by Reading International but operates with its own identity.
Historic cinema venue
Wellington cinema
Reading’s historic Wellington cinema building in New Zealand was closed in 2019 and later became the subject of a proposed refurbishment and earthquake-strengthening agreement. A NZ$32 million arrangement was considered by Wellington City Council in 2023, but the council withdrew from the proposal in April 2024 after citing Reading’s inability to provide its share of the investment.
Brand decisions
2023
Propose Wellington cinema refurbishment and seismic strengtheningStrategyBackground
The historic Wellington theatre building had been closed since 2019 and required refurbishment and earthquake-strengthening work.
Action taken
Wellington City Council authorized staff to negotiate a proposed NZ$32 million agreement involving the building’s refurbishment and strengthening.
Aftermath
The proposed arrangement did not proceed. In April 2024, the council exited the agreement, citing Reading’s inability to provide its share of the investment.
Proposed refurbishment and earthquake-strengthening agreement. (2023–2024)
2001
Merge Reading Entertainment and Craig Corporation with Citadel Holding CorporationM&ABackground
The Cotter-related entertainment and holding companies were consolidated as part of the group’s corporate restructuring.
Action taken
On December 31, Reading Entertainment and Craig Corporation merged with and into Citadel Holding Corporation.
Aftermath
The transaction further integrated the cinema, entertainment, and property interests associated with the Reading group.
1997
Expand into New ZealandStrategyBackground
Following its Australian entry, Reading pursued a further international cinema expansion.
Action taken
The company entered New Zealand and established cinemas under the Reading name.
Aftermath
New Zealand became a continuing part of the Reading Cinemas operating footprint, although the Wellington venue later closed and became the focus of a redevelopment dispute.
1996
Acquire New York art-house theatreM&ABackground
Reading pursued a broader cinema strategy in the United States alongside its multiplex operations.
Action taken
The group acquired an art-house theatre in New York City’s Cable Building and operated it as the Angelika Film Center.
Aftermath
The acquisition added a specialized cinema brand to the group’s portfolio.
1995
Expand the cinema business into AustraliaStrategyBackground
The Reading group was developing a business centered on entertainment properties and cinema exhibition after the transformation of the former railroad company.
Action taken
Reading entered Australia and developed cinemas operating under the Reading banner.
Aftermath
Australia became one of the brand’s three reported operating markets.
Recent events
- 2024
Wellington City Council exits proposed Reading cinema redevelopment agreement[1]
Other
The council withdrew from the proposed Wellington building agreement, citing Reading’s inability to provide its share of the required investment.
- 2023
Wellington Council considers redevelopment agreement for Reading cinema building[1]
Other
Wellington City Council approved authority for staff to negotiate a NZ$32 million arrangement to refurbish and earthquake-strengthen the historic building associated with Reading’s Wellington cinema, which had been closed since 2019.
- 2015
Leadership dispute follows James Cotter’s death[1]
Leadership change · Lawsuit
After years of litigation among members of the Cotter family and related trusts, James Cotter Jr. was removed by his sisters and a majority of the Reading International board. Ellen Cotter was subsequently named chief executive officer.
Sources1 sources
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