CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ (422,215,000)	$ (617,948,000)	$ 193,848,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Depreciation	262,681,000	254,987,000	256,118,000
Amortization of intangible and other assets	2,682,000	4,789,000	5,037,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs	10,714,000	7,332,000	5,311,000
Non-cash interest accretion on convertible notes	0	5,714,000	0
Amortization of accumulated losses for amended swap agreements	4,495,000	3,371,000	0
Impairment of long-lived and other assets	20,845,000	152,706,000	57,001,000
Share based awards compensation expense	29,271,000	19,404,000	14,615,000
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets and other	8,025,000	(8,923,000)	12,008,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	6,527,000	0	0
Non-cash rent expense	(3,451,000)	2,357,000	(4,360,000)
Equity in (income) loss of affiliates	25,045,000	38,745,000	(41,870,000)
Deferred income tax expenses	(22,630,000)	(38,900,000)	(1,843,000)
Cash distributions from DCIP	(156,000)	(25,430,000)	(53,366,000)
Non-cash distributions from equity investees		(12,915,000)	0
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Inventories	(2,858,000)	9,093,000	(2,367,000)
Accounts receivable	(43,577,000)	58,457,000	11,326,000
Income tax receivable	118,520,000	(161,069,000)	(794,000)
Prepaid expenses and other	(1,809,000)	2,787,000	(24,013,000)
Deferred charges and other assets, net	805,000	9,904,000	(8,495,000)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	175,500,000	(97,273,000)	36,106,000
Income tax payable	(6,001,000)	2,289,000	(6,984,000)
Liabilities for uncertain tax positions	30,183,000	4,931,000	341,000
Other long-term liabilities	(17,890,000)	12,718,000	21,309,000
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	166,219,000	(330,098,000)	561,995,000
Investing activities
Additions to theatre properties and equipment and other	(95,542,000)	(83,930,000)	(303,627,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets and other	6,246,000	614,000	3,155,000
Acquisitions of theatres in the U.S. and international markets, net of cash acquired	0	0	(10,170,000)
Investment in joint ventures and other, net	0	(50,000)	0
Net cash used for investing activities	(89,296,000)	(83,366,000)	(310,642,000)
Financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders	0	(42,311,000)	(159,281,000)
Payroll taxes paid as a result of restricted stock withholdings	(4,102,000)	(5,437,000)	(2,308,000)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes	0	460,000,000	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes	1,170,000,000	250,000,000	0
Proceeds from other borrowings	13,475,000	22,322,000	0
Redemption of senior notes	(1,155,000,000)	0	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(10,284,000)	(6,691,000)	(7,984,000)
Payment of debt issue costs	(17,272,000)	(24,981,000)	0
Proceeds from warrants issued	0	89,424,000	0
Fees paid related to debt refinancing	(2,058,000)	0	0
Payments on finance leases	(14,689,000)	(15,432,000)	(14,600,000)
Other	0	(392,000)	(2,333,000)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(19,930,000)	584,408,000	(186,506,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4,992,000)	(3,919,000)	(2,756,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	52,001,000	167,025,000	62,091,000
Cash and cash equivalents:
Beginning of period	655,338,000	488,313,000	426,222,000
End of period	707,339,000	655,338,000	488,313,000
Convertible Notes
Financing activities
Purchase of convertible note hedges	0	(142,094,000)	0
NCM
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Interest accrued on NCM screen advertising advances	23,612,000	23,595,000	0
Amortization of NCM screen advertising advances and other deferred revenues	(32,411,000)	(31,679,000)	$ (13,665,000)
Impairment of long-lived and other assets	$ 0	$ 92,655,000