Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - The effect of the adoption of ASC 606 on Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total franchise expenses									$ 330,619	$ 293,986	$ 293,500
Gross profit (loss), by segment									110,608	(428,309)	157,851
Income tax benefit									(30,254)	85,559	(56,849)
Net income (loss)	$ 26,981	$ 23,587	$ 12,713	$ 17,073	$ 69,900	$ (450,352)	$ 22,107	$ 15,595	$ 80,354	$ (342,750)	$ 101,002
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders per share:
Net income per common share - basic (USD per share)	$ 1.49	$ 1.31	$ 0.70	$ 0.93	$ 3.82	$ (24.91)	$ 1.23	$ 0.87	$ 4.43	$ (18.96)	$ 5.52
Net income per common share - diluted (USD per share)	$ 1.47	$ 1.29	$ 0.69	$ 0.92	$ 3.82	$ (24.91)	$ 1.23	$ 0.86	$ 4.37	$ (18.96)	$ 5.49
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total franchise expenses										$ 164,145	$ 144,636
Gross profit (loss), by segment										(425,374)	153,122
Income tax benefit										94,835	(55,130)
Net income (loss)										$ (330,539)	$ 97,992
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders per share:
Net income per common share - basic (USD per share)										$ (18.28)	$ 5.36
Net income per common share - diluted (USD per share)										$ (18.28)	$ 5.33
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member] | Applebee's | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer, excluding assessed Tax										$ 120,900	$ 148,900
Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member] | Applebee's | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, Change In Method Of Recognizing Franchise And Development Fees
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer, excluding assessed Tax										6,000	4,700
Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total franchise expenses										129,841	148,864
Gross profit (loss), by segment										(2,935)	4,729
Income tax benefit										(9,276)	(1,719)
Net income (loss)										(12,211)	3,010
Franchisor [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer, excluding assessed Tax									$ 643,934	594,418	637,971
Franchisor [Member] | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer, excluding assessed Tax										467,512	484,378
Franchisor [Member] | Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Revenue from contract with customer, excluding assessed Tax										$ 126,906	$ 153,593