General - Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2020	Sep. 26, 2019	Sep. 24, 2020	Sep. 26, 2019
Numerator:
Net earnings (loss) attributable to The Marcus Corporation	$ (39,440)	$ 14,289	$ (85,821)	$ 34,215
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS	31,064	30,918	31,033	30,566
Effect of dilutive employee stock options		443		518
Denominator for diluted EPS	31,064	31,361	31,033	31,084
Common Stock [Member]
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic:
Common Stock	$ (1.30)	$ 0.47	$ (2.84)	$ 1.18
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted:
Common Stock	(1.30)	0.46	(2.84)	1.10
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic:
Common Stock	(1.18)	0.43	(2.57)	1.02
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted:
Common Stock	$ (1.18)	$ 0.43	$ (2.57)	$ 1.01