Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental [Line Items]
Cash paid for interest	$ 11,019		$ 15,876
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	16,692		4,045
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in accounts payable and accrued expenses for the acquisition of theatre properties and equipment	(2,050)	[1]	(9,711)	[1]
Theatre properties acquired under capital lease	6,985		3,569
Change in fair market values of interest rate swap agreements, net of taxes	776		978
Investment in NCM - receipt of common units (see Note 8)	8,869		9,137
Dividends accrued on unvested restricted stock unit awards	(177)		(159)
Change in fair market value of available-for-sale securities, net of taxes (see Note 10)	$ 1,356		$ 4,249

[1] Additions to theatre properties and equipment included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2012 and March 31, 2013 were $4,685 and $6,735, respectively.