Supplemental Information to Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental [Line Items]
Cash paid for interest	$ 74,071		$ 75,737
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	86,333		63,638
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in accounts payable and accrued expenses for the acquisition of theatre properties and equipment	5,937	[1]	(9,943)	[1]
Theatre properties acquired under capital lease (see Note 6)	66,545		3,802
Change in fair market values of interest rate swap agreements, net of taxes	2,481		(35)
Investment in NCM - receipt of common units (see Note 8)	98,797		9,137
Dividends accrued on unvested restricted stock unit awards	(474)		(460)
Change in fair market value of available-for-sale securities, net of taxes (see Note 10)	$ (5,148)		$ 764

[1] Additions to theatre properties and equipment included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2013 were $4,685 and $10,622, respectively.