Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Net income attributable to Cinemark Holdings, Inc.	$ 42,104	$ 24,963
Earnings allocated to participating share-based awards	(441)	(225)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 41,663	$ 24,738
Denominator (shares in thousands):
Basic weighted average common stock outstanding	112,825,000	112,542,000
Common equivalent shares for stock options	40,000	53,000
Common equivalent shares for restricted stock units	503,000	304,000
Diluted	113,368,000	112,899,000
Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.37	$ 0.22
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders	$ 0.37	$ 0.22
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]
Shares of unvested restricted stock	1,200	1,027