General - Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 29, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Numerator:
Net earnings (loss) attributable to The Marcus Corporation	$ 3,289	$ 1,759	$ (2,653)	$ (49,737)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS (in shares)	31,506	31,421	31,481	31,340
Effect of dilutive employee stock options (in shares)	84	48	0	0
Effect of convertible notes (in shares)	9,112	0	0	0
Denominator for diluted EPS (in shares)	40,702	31,469	31,481	31,340
Common Stock
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.06	$ (0.09)	$ (1.66)
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	0.10	0.06	(0.09)	(1.66)
Class B Common Stock
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	0.10	0.05	(0.08)	(1.39)
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.05	$ (0.08)	$ (1.39)