Purchase of Noncontrolling Interest' Share of Cinemark Chile (Details) (Cinemark Chile [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
May 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Purchase of Noncontrolling Interests' Share of Cinemark Chile (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of share purchased in Cinemark Chile	2.60%
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in Cinemark Chile	$ 1,443
Decrease in additional - paid - in - capital		(1,443)
Difference between cash paid and the book value	917
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	485	(21,665)	28,181
Ownership share in Cinemark Chile	100.00%
Additional paid-in-capital [Member]
Purchase of Noncontrolling Interests' Share of Cinemark Chile (Textual) [Abstract]
Decrease in additional - paid - in - capital	$ 1,402

Accumulated other comprehensive income allocated to noncontrolling interest.

Name:	cnk_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAllocatedToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	cnk
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between cash paid to acquire noncontrolling interest and book value of noncontrolling interest's share of subsidiary.

+ Details

Name:	cnk_DifferenceBetweenCashPaidAndBookValue
Namespace Prefix:	cnk
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage share of subsidiary purchased by company.

+ Details

Name:	cnk_PercentageShareOfSubsidiaryPurchasedByCompany
Namespace Prefix:	cnk
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase of Noncontrolling Interests' Share of Company Textual Abstract.

+ Details

Name:	cnk_PurchaseOfNoncontrollingInterestsShareOfCompanyTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	cnk
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph c(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 23

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6921628&loc=SL4569655-111683

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 810

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 24

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6921628&loc=SL4616395-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration