Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Reconciliation of weighted-average basic and diluted shares (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Numerator:
Net earnings (loss) attributable to The Marcus Corporation	$ (43,293)	$ (124,843)	$ 42,017
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS (in shares)	31,360	31,042	30,656
Effect of dilutive employee stock options (in shares)	0	0	496
Denominator for diluted EPS (in shares)	31,360	31,042	31,152
Common Stock
Net earnings (loss) per share – Basic:
Net earnings (loss) per share – Basic: (in dollars per share)	$ (1.42)	$ (4.13)	$ 1.44
Net earnings (loss) per share- Diluted:
Net earnings (loss) per share – Diluted: (in dollars per share)	(1.42)	(4.13)	1.35
Class B Common Stock
Net earnings (loss) per share – Basic:
Net earnings (loss) per share – Basic: (in dollars per share)	(1.25)	(3.74)	1.25
Net earnings (loss) per share- Diluted:
Net earnings (loss) per share – Diluted: (in dollars per share)	$ (1.25)	$ (3.74)	$ 1.24