Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and entity information. Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Beginning of period End of period Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Inventories Inventory, Net Accounts Receivable Current Accounts receivable The total amount due to the entity within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from outside sources, including trade accounts receivable, screen advertising receivables and credit card receivables, as well as any other types of receivables, net of allowances established for the purpose of reducing such receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value. Income tax receivable Income Taxes Receivable, Current Deferred tax asset Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other Total current assets Assets, Current, Total Theatre properties and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Theatre Properties and Equipment - net Theatre properties and equipment, net Other assets Other Assets [Abstract] Goodwill Beginning Balance Ending Balance Goodwill Intangible assets - net Total intangible assets - net, Beginning balance Total intangible assets - net, Ending balance Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Investment in Company One Investment in NCM, Ending balance Investment in NCM, Beginning balance Investment in NCM This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of NCM, an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment losses recognized. Investment in Company Two Ending balance Beginning balance Investment in DCIP This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of DCIP , an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment losses. Investment in Company Three Estimated fair value of Company owned shares in RealD Investment in marketable securities - RealD This item represents the fair value of the entity's investment in real d which is in the form of equity securities. The entity has classified these equity securities as available for sale. Other Investments in and Advance to Affiliates Investments in and advances to affiliates Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable form a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Long-term deferred tax asset Other Assets, Noncurrent Deferred charges and other assets - net Other Assets Net Total other assets Other Assets, Net. Total Assets of the Company's Subsidiaries Total assets Assets, Total Liabilities and equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Current portion of long-term debt Current portion of capital lease obligations Capital Lease Obligations, Current Income tax payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Accounts payable and accrued expenses Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Long-term liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent [Abstract] Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Long-term debt, less current portion Capital Lease Obligations, Noncurrent Capital lease obligations, less current portion Deferred tax liability Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Liability for uncertain tax positions Liability for Uncertain Tax Positions, Noncurrent Deferred Rent Credit, Noncurrent Deferred lease expenses Deferred Revenue Under Equity Method Investment Deferred revenue - NCM This item represents deferred revenue from NCM, one of the entity's equity investees. Deferred revenue is a liability related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been earned. Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other long-term liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total Total long-term liabilities Equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock, $0.001 par value: 300,000,000 shares authorized, 118,443,058 shares issued and 114,889,973 shares outstanding at September 30, 2012 and 117,593,329 shares issued and 114,201,737 shares outstanding at December 31, 2011 Additional paid-in-capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Treasury Stock, Value Treasury stock, 3,553,085 and 3,391,592 shares, at cost, at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively Ending Balance, Cost Beginning Balance, Cost Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated other comprehensive Income (Loss) Accumulated other comprehensive loss Cinemark Holdings, Inc. Stockholders' Equity, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Total Total Cinemark Holdings, Inc.'s stockholders' equity Noncontrolling Interests, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interests Total Equity, Ending Balance Total Equity, Beginning Balance Total equity Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity, Total Total liabilities and equity Common stock, par value Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common stock, shares outstanding Treasury stock at cost Ending Balance, Shares Beginning Balance, Shares Treasury stock, shares Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract] Revenues Sales Revenue, Net [Abstract] Admissions Admissions Revenue Concession Concessions Revenue Other Operating Income Other Sales Revenue, Net, Total Total revenues Revenues Cost of operations Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Film rentals and advertising Film rentals and advertising Costs incurred that are related to film rental and advertising. Concession supplies Concessions Costs Salary and Wages Salaries and wages Expenditures for salaries and related payroll taxes, employee benefits, insurance and other labor-related costs for employees, other than officers, involved in the entity's normal revenue producing operation. Operating Leases, Rent Expense Facility lease expense Other Cost and Expense, Operating Utilities and other General and Administrative Expense General and administrative expenses Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Impairment of long-lived assets Impairment of long-lived assets Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use Loss on Sale of Assets and Other Loss on sale of assets and other The gains and losses included in earnings resulting from the sale, disposal, or damage of operating assets and gains and losses realized on other transactions not related to the entity's normal revenue producing operations. Costs and Expenses, Total Total cost of operations Operating Income (Loss) Operating income Operating income Other income (expense) Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Interest Expense Interest expense Interest expense Interest income Investment Income, Interest Investment Income, Dividend Distributions from NCM Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Total other expense Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income taxes, and noncontrolling interest. Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income taxes Net income attributable to Noncontrolling Interests Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc. Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc. Weighted average shares outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Basic Basic weighted average common stock outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Diluted Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders Diluted Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Dividend declared per common share Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other comprehensive income, net of tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax Unrealized loss due to fair value adjustments on interest rate swap agreements, net of taxes of $48, $3,888, $72 and $4,180 Amortization of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss on Terminated Swap Agreement Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss on terminated swap agreement Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss on terminated interest rate swap agreement Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss on terminated swap agreement. Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax Unrealized loss due to fair value adjustments on interest rate swap agreements, net of taxes Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Tax Unrealized (loss) gain due to fair value adjustments on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table] Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] UNITED STATES [Member] UNITED STATES Business Acquisition [Line Items] Operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation Depreciation Amortization of Intangible Assets Amortization, intangible assets Amortization of intangible and other assets and favorable/unfavorable leases Amortization of Long-Term Prepaid Rents Amortization of long-term prepaid rents The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate amounts paid in advance for rent in a systematic and rational manner over the periods for which rent was paid in advance. Amortization of Financing Costs Amortization of debt issue costs Amortization of deferred revenues, deferred lease incentives and other Amortization of deferred revenues, deferred lease incentives and other The charge against earnings in the period representing the allocation of deferred costs to periods expected to benefit from such costs. Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to interest rate swap agreement Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to interest rate swap agreement The amount of expense charged against earnings by the entity's amortization of a loss on an interest rate swap agreement that had been designated as a cash flow hedge. Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain Fair value change in interest rate swap agreements not designated as hedges Amortization of bond discount Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium) Share-based Compensation Share based awards compensation expense Loss on Sale of Assets and Other Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Cash Provided by Used for Operating Activities Loss on sale of assets and other The gains and losses included in earnings resulting from the sale, disposal, or damage of operating assets and gains and losses realized on other transactions not related to the entity's normal revenue producing operations. Deferred Lease Expenses Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Cash Provided by Used for Operating Activities Deferred lease expenses Non-cash rent expense recorded by the entity during the period related to the requirement of an entity to record rent expense on a straight line basis over the term of a lease. Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income tax expenses Tax Benefit Realized from Exercise of Stock Options and Restricted Stock Vesting Tax benefit related to stock option exercises restricted stock vesting and dividends paid on unvested restricted stock Tax benefit realized from exercise of stock options and restricted stock vesting during the period. Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Distributions from equity investees Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net Changes in assets and liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Additions to theatre properties and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from sale of theatre properties and equipment Acquisition of theatre in U.S. Payments to Joint Venture Investment Investment in DCIP and other Represents the cash invested in DCIP, one of the entity's equity investees, less cash distributions received from DCIP. Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used for investing activities Financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Proceeds from stock option exercises Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Payroll Taxes Paid as Result of Noncash Stock Option Exercises and Restricted Stock Withholdings Payroll taxes paid as a result of restricted stock withholdings Represents payroll taxes paid by the Company on behalf of employees that exercised stock options under an immaculate exercise and employees that elected for stock withholdings on vested restricted stock. Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Dividends paid to stockholders Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Payment of debt issue costs Repayments of Other Long-term Debt Repayments of long-term debt Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations Payments on capital leases Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Other Net cash used for financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value [Abstract] The Company and Basis of Presentation [Abstract] The Company and Basis of Presentation Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block] New Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] New Accounting Pronouncements Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Long-Term Debt Activity [Abstract] Long-Term Debt Activity Long-term Debt [Text Block] Equity [Abstract] Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Investment in National CineMedia [Abstract] Investment in company one. Investment in Company One Equity Method Investee [Text Block] Investment in National CineMedia Investment in company one equity method investee. Investment in Digital Cinema Implementation Partners [Abstract] Investment in company two. Investment in Company Two Equity Method Investee [Text Block] Investment in Digital Cinema Implementation Partners Investment in company two equity method investee. Investment in Marketable Securities - RealD [Abstract] Investment in company three. Investment in Company Three [Text Block] Investment in Marketable Securities - RealD Investment in company three. Treasury Stock and Share Based Awards [Abstract] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Share Based Payments [Text Block] Interest Rate Swap Agreements [Abstract] Interest Rate Swap Agreements Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract] Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Asset Impairment Charges [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Foreign Currency Translation [Abstract] Foreign Currency Translation Foreign Currency Disclosure [Text Block] Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental Cash Flow Information Cash Flow, Supplemental Disclosures [Text Block] Segments [Abstract] Segments Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Adoption of ASC Topic 8201035 [Policy Text Block] Adoption of ASC Topic 820-10-35 Adoption of ASC Topic 820 10 35 policy. Available for sale securities of ASC Topic 320-10-35-1 Marketable Securities, Available-for-sale Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block] Recognition of equity investee losses Topic ASC 323-10-35-22 Equity Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block] Subsequent Equity Method Investments in Investee after Suspension of Equity Loss Recognition Policy [Policy Text Block] Accounting for Subsequent Investments in an Investee after Suspension of Equity Loss Recognition Topic ASC 323-10-35-29 Subsequent equity method investments in investee after suspension of equity loss recognition policy. Earnings Per Share Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block]