General - Schedule of Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2023	Jun. 29, 2023	Mar. 30, 2023	Sep. 29, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Sep. 28, 2023	Sep. 29, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 461,442	$ 448,407	$ 456,921	$ 452,733	$ 441,778	$ 453,614	$ 456,921	$ 453,614
Cash dividends	(1,723)	(1,230)	(1,229)	(1,220)
Exercise of stock options	987	96	2	813	53	26
Purchase of treasury stock	(914)	(226)	(313)	(809)	(104)	(1,373)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,259			956
Reissuance of treasury stock	24	19	21	18	7	9
Issuance of non-vested stock	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shared-based compensation	1,313	1,515	2,172	2,464	1,655	2,917
Other		0	0		0	0
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			0			0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		(274)	(550)
Comprehensive (loss) income	12,222	13,454	(9,557)	3,549	9,344	(14,371)	16,119	(1,478)
Ending balance	472,898	461,442	448,407	457,228	452,733	441,778	472,898	457,228
Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	461,442	448,133	456,097	452,733	441,778	453,614	456,097	453,614
Cash dividends	(1,723)	(1,230)	(1,229)	(1,220)
Exercise of stock options	987	96	2	813	53	26
Purchase of treasury stock	(914)	(226)	(313)	(809)	(104)	(1,373)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,259			956
Reissuance of treasury stock	24	19	21	18	7	9
Issuance of non-vested stock	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shared-based compensation	1,313	1,515	2,172	2,464	1,655	2,917
Other		0	0		0	0
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			0			0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		0	0
Comprehensive (loss) income	12,222	13,454	(9,557)	3,549	9,344	(14,371)
Ending balance	472,898	461,442	448,133	457,228	452,733	441,778	472,898	457,228
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	24,692	24,692	24,498	24,498	24,498	24,345	24,498	24,345
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			79			56
Issuance of non-vested stock	0	0	82			78
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			33			19
Ending balance	24,692	24,692	24,692	24,498	24,498	24,498	24,692	24,498
Capital in Excess of Par
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	158,231	157,000	153,794	150,565	149,234	145,656	153,794	145,656
Exercise of stock options	(184)	(25)	(1)	(175)	(16)	(5)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,180			900
Reissuance of treasury stock	(3)	(204)	(3)	(2)	(2)	1
Issuance of non-vested stock	(53)	(55)	(143)	(131)	(305)	(236)
Shared-based compensation	1,313	1,515	2,172	2,464	1,655	2,917
Other			1		(1)	1
Ending balance	159,304	158,231	157,000	152,721	150,565	149,234	159,304	152,721
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	275,157	263,239	274,254	283,364	274,403	289,306	274,254	289,306
Cash dividends	(1,723)	(1,230)	(1,229)	(1,220)
Other		1	(1)		1	(1)
Comprehensive (loss) income	12,234	13,466	(9,466)	3,289	8,960	(14,902)
Ending balance	285,215	275,157	263,239	285,113	283,364	274,403	285,215	285,113
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,797)	(1,785)	(1,694)	(10,529)	(10,913)	(11,444)	(1,694)	(11,444)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(12)	(12)	(91)	260	384	531
Ending balance	(1,809)	(1,797)	(1,785)	(10,269)	(10,529)	(10,913)	(1,809)	(10,269)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,919)	(2,091)	(1,866)	(2,276)	(2,555)	(1,379)	(1,866)	(1,379)
Exercise of stock options	1,171	121	3	988	69	31
Purchase of treasury stock	(914)	(226)	(313)	(809)	(104)	(1,373)
Reissuance of treasury stock	27	223	24	20	9	8
Issuance of non-vested stock	53	55	61	131	305	158
Other		(1)				0
Ending balance	(1,582)	(1,919)	(2,091)	(1,946)	(2,276)	(2,555)	(1,582)	(1,946)
Non- controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	274	824	0	0	0	824	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		(274)	(550)
Comprehensive (loss) income					0	0
Ending balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 274	$ 0	0	0	0	0
Common Stock
Common stock, dividends (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05
Class B Common Stock
Common stock, dividends (in dollars per share)	$ 0.064	$ 0.045	$ 0.045	$ 0.045
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends	$ (453)	$ (319)	$ (319)	$ (320)
Class B Common Stock | Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends	(453)	(319)	(319)	(320)
Class B Common Stock | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	7,078	7,078	7,111	7,111	7,111	7,130	7,111	7,130
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			(33)			(19)
Ending balance	7,078	7,078	7,078	7,111	$ 7,111	$ 7,111	$ 7,078	$ 7,111
Class B Common Stock | Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends	$ (453)	$ (319)	$ (319)	$ (320)