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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-05-08</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001740487</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tompkins Sidney Craig</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, General Counsel</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Non-Voting Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55825</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Various retirement accounts</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Non-Voting Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3288</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2817</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option; Right to Buy; Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.97</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-03-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>17341</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5545</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option; Right to Buy; Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-08-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>19921</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3649</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option; Right to Buy; Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Non-Voting Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15748</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, March 23, 2017. Original grant was for 3,757 restricted stock units. The first installment vested on March 23, 2018, and the next three installments vest on March 23, 2019, March 23, 2020 and March 23, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, March 23, 2017. Original grant was for 17,341 stock options. The first installment became exercisable on March 23, 2018, and the next three installments become exercisable on March 23, 2019, March 23, 2020 and March 23, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, August 29, 2017. Original grant was for 7,394 restricted stock units. The first installment vested on August 29, 2017, and the next three installments vest on August 29, 2018, August 29, 2019 and August 29, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, August 29, 2017. Original grant was for 19,921 stock options. The first installment became exercisable on August 29, 2017, and the next three installments become exercisable on August 29, 2018, August 29, 2019 and August 29, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, April 12, 2018. The restricted stock units vest on April 12, 2019, April 12, 2020, April 12, 2021 and April 12, 2022.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Granted pursuant to the Company's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, vesting in four equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the Date of Grant, April 12, 2018. The options become exercisable on April 12, 2019, April 12, 2020, April 12, 2021 and April 12, 2022.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ S. Craig Tompkins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-05-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
