General - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2020	Jun. 25, 2020	Mar. 26, 2020	Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Sep. 24, 2020	Sep. 26, 2019
Beginning balance	$ 572,980	$ 598,388	$ 621,458	$ 612,342	$ 597,859	$ 490,119	$ 621,458	$ 490,119
Exercise of stock options	323	11	45	440	450	454
Purchase of treasury stock	(422)		(274)	(478)	(213)	(428)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,315			1,181
Reissuance of treasury stock	11	95	48	47	278	47
Share-based compensation	1,108	1,190	988	868	949	777
Equity component of issuance of convertible notes, net of tax and issuance costs	16,522
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition						109,197
Other						(109)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest				(90)	(35)	(60)
Capped call transactions, net of tax	(12,495)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(39,059)	(26,704)	(20,047)	14,203	17,884	1,497	(85,810)	33,584
Ending balance	538,968	572,980	598,388	622,500	612,342	597,859	538,968	622,500
Capital in Excess of Par [Member]
Beginning balance	147,690	146,694	145,549	144,056	143,094	63,830	145,549	63,830
Exercise of stock options	(68)	(4)	5	(134)	(27)	(78)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			299			810
Reissuance of treasury stock	(1)	(17)	2	28	182	31
Issuance of non-vested stock	(158)	(172)	(149)	(131)	(142)	(127)
Share-based compensation	1,108	1,190	988	868	949	777
Equity component of issuance of convertible notes, net of tax and issuance costs	16,522
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition						77,960
Other		(1)				(109)
Capped call transactions, net of tax	(12,495)
Ending balance	152,598	147,690	146,694	144,687	144,056	143,094	152,598	144,687
Retained Earnings [Member]
Beginning balance	410,359	437,387	461,884	449,458	436,222	439,178	461,884	439,178
Other		1
Comprehensive income (loss)	(39,440)	(27,029)	(19,352)	14,289	18,066	1,860
Ending balance	370,919	410,359	437,387	458,915	449,458	436,222	370,919	458,915
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Beginning balance	(12,995)	(13,195)	(12,648)	(7,408)	(7,055)	(6,758)	(12,648)	(6,758)
Comprehensive income (loss)	381	200	(547)	(27)	(353)	(297)
Ending balance	(12,614)	(12,995)	(13,195)	(7,435)	(7,408)	(7,055)	(12,614)	(7,435)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	(3,264)	(3,563)	(4,540)	(5,074)	(5,576)	(37,431)	(4,540)	(37,431)
Exercise of stock options	391	15	40	574	477	532
Purchase of treasury stock	(422)		(274)	(478)	(213)	(428)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,016			371
Reissuance of treasury stock	12	112	46	19	96	16
Issuance of non-vested stock	158	172	149	131	142	127
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition						31,237
Ending balance	(3,125)	(3,264)	(3,563)	(4,828)	(5,074)	(5,576)	(3,125)	(4,828)
Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Beginning balance	572,980	598,513	621,435	612,222	597,875	490,009	621,435	490,009
Exercise of stock options	323	11	45	440	450	454
Purchase of treasury stock	(422)		(274)	(478)	(213)	(428)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,315			1,181
Reissuance of treasury stock	11	95	48	47	278	47
Share-based compensation	1,108	1,190	988	868	949	777
Equity component of issuance of convertible notes, net of tax and issuance costs	16,522
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition						109,197
Other						(109)
Capped call transactions, net of tax	(12,495)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(39,059)	(26,829)	(19,899)	14,262	17,713	1,563
Ending balance	538,968	572,980	598,513	622,529	612,222	597,875	538,968	622,529
Non- controlling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance		(125)	23	120	(16)	110	23	110
Distributions to noncontrolling interest				(90)	(35)	(60)
Comprehensive income (loss)		125	(148)	(59)	171	(66)
Ending balance			(125)	(29)	120	(16)		(29)
Common Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	23,264	23,264	23,254	23,254	23,254	22,843	23,254	22,843
Cash dividends:			(3,921)	(3,677)	(3,675)	(3,633)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			10			411
Ending balance	23,264	23,264	23,264	23,254	23,254	23,254	23,264	23,254
Common Stock [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:			(3,921)	(3,677)	(3,675)	(3,633)
Common Stock [Member] | Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:			(3,921)	(3,677)	(3,675)	(3,633)
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	7,926	7,926	7,936	7,936	7,936	8,347	7,936	8,347
Cash dividends:			(1,224)	(1,155)	(1,155)	(1,183)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			(10)			(411)
Ending balance	$ 7,926	$ 7,926	7,926	7,936	7,936	7,936	$ 7,926	$ 7,936
Class B Common Stock [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:			(1,224)	(1,155)	(1,155)	(1,183)
Class B Common Stock [Member] | Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:			$ (1,224)	$ (1,155)	$ (1,155)	$ (1,183)