Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income Statement [Abstract]
Rental revenue									$ 226,031	$ 219,949	$ 193,016
Tenant reimbursements									17,965	17,100	15,438
Other income									1,783	536	2,833
Mortgage and other financing income									55,880	52,258	44,999
Total revenue	77,608	75,995	74,438	73,618	74,679	74,478	70,387	70,299	301,659	289,843	256,286
Property operating expense									23,547	24,684	21,932
Other expense									3,999	1,106	2,185
General and administrative expense									20,173	18,225	15,133
Costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff, net									5,773	11,383	117
Interest expense, net									71,679	72,311	65,531
Transaction costs									1,730	517	3,321
Provision for loan losses									0	700	70,954
Impairment charges									27,115	463	2,083
Depreciation and amortization									47,927	45,359	41,401
Income before equity in income from joint ventures and discontinued operations									99,716	115,095	33,629
Equity in income from joint ventures									2,847	2,138	895
Income from continuing operations									102,563	117,233	34,524
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									2,099	(5,195)	(6,354)
Impairment charges			(7,100)	(1,800)					(8,941)	0	(40,076)
Transaction costs									0	(7,270)	0
Gain on sale or acquisition of real estate									19,545	8,287	0
Net income (loss)	37,968	35,563	2	41,733	34,175	35,043	14,748	29,091	115,266	113,055	(11,906)
Add: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests									(38)	1,819	19,913
Net income attributable to Entertainment Properties Trust	31,940	25,749	(7,549)	34,179	26,652	27,457	8,036	22,523	115,228	114,874	8,007
Preferred dividend requirements									(28,140)	(30,206)	(30,206)
Series B preferred share redemption costs									(2,769)	0	0
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders of Entertainment Properties Trust									$ 84,319	$ 84,668	$ (22,199)
Basic earnings per share data:
Income from continuing operations									$ 1.54	$ 1.92	$ 0.12
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									$ 0.27	$ (0.05)	$ (0.73)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.68	$ 0.55	$ (0.16)	$ 0.73	$ 0.57	$ 0.59	$ 0.18	$ 0.53	$ 1.81	$ 1.87	$ (0.61)
Diluted earnings per share data:
Income from continuing operations									$ 1.53	$ 1.91	$ 0.12
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									$ 0.27	$ (0.05)	$ (0.73)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$ 0.68	$ 0.55	$ (0.16)	$ 0.73	$ 0.57	$ 0.58	$ 0.18	$ 0.52	$ 1.80	$ 1.86	$ (0.61)
Shares used for computation (in thousands):
Basic									46,640	45,206	36,122
Diluted									46,901	45,555	36,235