<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-03-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000716634</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>READING INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001060902</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COTTER ELLEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5995 SEPULVEDA BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CULVER CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90230</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairperson, President and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of Sec.13(d)(3) Group</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1805149</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Co-Trustee and beneficiary of James J. Cotter Living Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-03-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31040</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.2064</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>773433</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Ellen Cotter is a co-trustee of the Trust, a trust organized under the laws of CA. During the lifetime of  James J. Cotter, Sr., the Trust was revocable by James J. Cotter, Sr., but the Trust became irrevocable upon the death of  James J. Cotter, Sr. on September 13, 2014. The Trust serves as a vehicle for the management and distribution of the assets of  James J. Cotter, Sr. Ellen Cotter and  Margaret Cotter, acting together as co-trustees of the Trust, may be deemed to share voting and investment power over the shares of the Class A Non-Voting Common Stock directly beneficially owned by the Trust.  Ellen Cotter disclaims beneficial ownership of the Class A Non-Voting Common Stock directly beneficially owned by the Trust and reported herein, except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein. The extent of any pecuniary interest in Class A Non-Voting Common Stock to  Ellen Cotter is dependent on certain factors yet to be resolved and is not currently known.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ellen Cotter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-03-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
