General - Schedule of Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2024	Jun. 27, 2024	Mar. 28, 2024	Sep. 28, 2023	Jun. 29, 2023	Mar. 30, 2023	Sep. 26, 2024	Sep. 28, 2023
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				$ 461,442	$ 448,407	$ 456,921		$ 456,921
Cash dividends	$ (1,749)	$ (1,763)	$ (1,760)	(1,723)	(1,230)	(1,229)
Exercise of stock options				987	96	2
Purchase of treasury stock	(9,667)		(301)	(914)	(226)	(313)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution						1,259
Reissuance of treasury stock	22	16	20	24	19	21
Issuance of non-vested stock	0	0	0	0	0	0
Shared-based compensation	2,225	2,418	2,514	1,313	1,515	2,172
Other					0	0
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			0			0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest					(274)	(550)
Convertible senior note repurchase	(5,472)	(2,788)
Capped call unwind	4,652	12,904
Comprehensive income (loss)	23,302	(20,232)	(11,878)	12,222	13,454	(9,557)	$ (8,808)	16,119
Ending balance				472,898	461,442	448,407		472,898
Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	449,426	459,318	471,172	461,442	448,133	456,097	471,172	456,097
Cash dividends				(1,723)	(1,230)	(1,229)
Exercise of stock options				987	96	2
Purchase of treasury stock				(914)	(226)	(313)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution						1,259
Reissuance of treasury stock				24	19	21
Issuance of non-vested stock				0	0	0
Shared-based compensation				1,313	1,515	2,172
Other					0	0
Conversions of Class B Common Stock						0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest					0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)				12,222	13,454	(9,557)
Ending balance	462,292	449,426	459,318	472,898	461,442	448,133	462,292	472,898
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	25,237	25,237	24,692	24,692	24,692	24,498	24,692	24,498
Savings and profit-sharing contribution						79
Issuance of non-vested stock			452			82
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			93			33
Ending balance	25,237	25,237	25,237	24,692	24,692	24,692	25,237	24,692
Capital in Excess of Par
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	174,839	162,638	160,642	158,231	157,000	153,794	160,642	153,794
Exercise of stock options				(184)	(25)	(1)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution						1,180
Reissuance of treasury stock	6	(7)	(3)	(3)	(204)	(3)
Issuance of non-vested stock	(52)	(326)	(515)	(53)	(55)	(143)
Shared-based compensation	2,225	2,418	2,514	1,313	1,515	2,172
Other						1
Convertible senior note repurchase	(5,472)	(2,788)
Capped call unwind	4,652	12,904
Ending balance	176,198	174,839	162,638	159,304	158,231	157,000	176,198	159,304
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	245,093	267,524	281,599	275,157	263,239	274,254	281,599	274,254
Cash dividends	(1,749)	(1,763)	(1,760)	(1,723)	(1,230)	(1,229)
Other					1	(1)
Comprehensive income (loss)	23,314	(20,221)	(11,866)	12,234	13,466	(9,466)
Ending balance	266,211	245,093	267,524	285,215	275,157	263,239	266,211	285,215
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,359)	(1,348)	(1,336)	(1,797)	(1,785)	(1,694)	(1,336)	(1,694)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(12)	(11)	(12)	(12)	(12)	(91)
Ending balance	(1,371)	(1,359)	(1,348)	(1,809)	(1,797)	(1,785)	(1,371)	(1,809)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,369)	(1,718)	(1,503)	(1,919)	(2,091)	(1,866)	(1,503)	(1,866)
Exercise of stock options				1,171	121	3
Purchase of treasury stock	(9,667)		(301)	(914)	(226)	(313)
Reissuance of treasury stock	16	23	23	27	223	24
Issuance of non-vested stock	52	326	63	53	55	61
Other					(1)
Ending balance	$ (10,968)	$ (1,369)	$ (1,718)	(1,582)	(1,919)	(2,091)	(10,968)	(1,582)
Non- controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				0	274	824		824
Distribution to noncontrolling interest					(274)	(550)
Ending balance				$ 0	$ 0	$ 274		0
Common Stock
Common stock, dividends (in dollars per share)	$ 0.070	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.05	$ 0.05
Class B Common Stock
Common stock, dividends (in dollars per share)	$ 0.064	$ 0.064	$ 0.064	$ 0.064	$ 0.045	$ 0.045
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends	$ (447)	$ (447)	$ (449)	$ (453)	$ (319)	$ (319)
Class B Common Stock | Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends				(453)	(319)	(319)
Class B Common Stock | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	6,985	6,985	7,078	7,078	7,078	7,111	7,078	7,111
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			(93)			(33)
Ending balance	6,985	6,985	6,985	7,078	7,078	7,078	$ 6,985	$ 7,078
Class B Common Stock | Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends	$ (447)	$ (447)	$ (449)	$ (453)	$ (319)	$ (319)