General - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 25, 2020	Mar. 26, 2020	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Jun. 25, 2020	Jun. 27, 2019
Beginning balance	$ 598,388	$ 621,458	$ 597,859	$ 490,119	$ 621,458	$ 490,119
Cash dividends:				(3,633)
Exercise of stock options	11	45	450	454
Purchase of treasury stock		(274)	(213)	(428)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		1,315		1,181
Reissuance of treasury stock	95	48	278	47
Share-based compensation	1,190	988	949	777
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition				109,197
Other				(109)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest			(35)	(60)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(26,704)	(20,047)	17,884	1,497	(46,751)	19,381
Ending balance	572,980	598,388	612,342	597,859	572,980	612,342
Capital in Excess of Par [Member]
Beginning balance	146,694	145,549	143,094	63,830	145,549	63,830
Exercise of stock options	(4)	5	(27)	(78)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		299		810
Reissuance of treasury stock	(17)	2	182	31
Issuance of non-vested stock	(172)	(149)	(142)	(127)
Share-based compensation	1,190	988	949	777
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition				77,960
Other	(1)			(109)
Ending balance	147,690	146,694	144,056	143,094	147,690	144,056
Retained Earnings [Member]
Beginning balance	437,387	461,884	436,222	439,178	461,884	439,178
Cash dividends:				(3,633)
Other	1
Comprehensive income (loss)	(27,029)	(19,352)	18,066	1,860
Ending balance	410,359	437,387	449,458	436,222	410,359	449,458
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Beginning balance	(13,195)	(12,648)	(7,055)	(6,758)	(12,648)	(6,758)
Comprehensive income (loss)	200	(547)	(353)	(297)
Ending balance	(12,995)	(13,195)	(7,408)	(7,055)	(12,995)	(7,408)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	(3,563)	(4,540)	(5,576)	(37,431)	(4,540)	(37,431)
Exercise of stock options	15	40	477	532
Purchase of treasury stock		(274)	(213)	(428)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		1,016		371
Reissuance of treasury stock	112	46	96	16
Issuance of non-vested stock	172	149	142	127
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition				31,237
Ending balance	(3,264)	(3,563)	(5,074)	(5,576)	(3,264)	(5,074)
Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Beginning balance	598,513	621,435	597,875	490,009	621,435	490,009
Cash dividends:				(3,633)
Exercise of stock options	11	45	450	454
Purchase of treasury stock		(274)	(213)	(428)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		1,315		1,181
Reissuance of treasury stock	95	48	278	47
Share-based compensation	1,190	988	949	777
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition				109,197
Other				(109)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(26,829)	(19,899)	17,713	1,563
Ending balance	572,980	598,513	612,222	597,875	572,980	612,222
Non- controlling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance	(125)	23	(16)	110	23	110
Distributions to noncontrolling interest			(35)	(60)
Comprehensive income (loss)	125	(148)	171	(66)
Ending balance		(125)	120	(16)		120
Common Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	23,264	23,254	23,254	22,843	23,254	22,843
Cash dividends:		(3,921)	(3,675)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		10		411
Ending balance	23,264	23,264	23,254	23,254	23,264	23,254
Common Stock [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:		(3,921)	(3,675)
Common Stock [Member] \| Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:		(3,921)	(3,675)
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	7,926	7,936	7,936	8,347	7,936	8,347
Cash dividends:		(1,224)	(1,155)	(1,183)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		(10)		(411)
Ending balance	$ 7,926	7,926	7,936	7,936	$ 7,926	$ 7,936
Class B Common Stock [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:		(1,224)	(1,155)	(1,183)
Class B Common Stock [Member] \| Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:		$ (1,224)	$ (1,155)	$ (1,183)

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