CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 26, 2019		Dec. 27, 2018
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 220,486,000		$ 783,705,000		$ 672,835,000
Cost reimbursements	17,202,000		37,158,000		34,285,000
Total revenues	237,688,000		820,863,000		707,120,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Advertising and marketing	11,074,000		24,583,000		23,775,000
Administrative	51,046,000		73,522,000		72,116,000
Depreciation and amortization	75,052,000		72,277,000		61,342,000
Rent (Note 8)	26,866,000		26,099,000		11,267,000
Property taxes	23,560,000		21,871,000		19,396,000
Other operating expenses (Note 2)	17,288,000		41,065,000		36,534,000
Impairment charges	24,676,000		1,874,000		0
Reimbursed costs	17,202,000		37,158,000		34,285,000
Total costs and expenses	416,110,000		752,672,000		623,931,000
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	(178,422,000)		68,191,000		83,189,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Investment income	564,000		1,379,000		208,000
Interest expense	(16,275,000)		(11,791,000)		(13,079,000)
Other income (expense), net	(986,000)		(1,921,000)		(1,985,000)
Gain (loss) on disposition of property, equipment and other assets	856,000		(1,149,000)		(1,342,000)
Equity losses from unconsolidated joint ventures, net (Note 13)	(1,539,000)		(274,000)		(399,000)
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(17,380,000)		(13,756,000)		(16,597,000)
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(195,802,000)		54,435,000		66,592,000
INCOME TAXES (BENEFIT) (Note 11)	(70,936,000)		12,320,000		13,127,000
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)	(124,866,000)		42,115,000		53,465,000
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(23,000)		98,000		74,000
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE MARCUS CORPORATION	(124,843,000)		42,017,000		53,391,000
Theatre admissions [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	64,825,000		284,141,000		246,385,000
Rooms [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	35,386,000		105,857,000		108,786,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	21,243,000		40,381,000		41,181,000
Theatre concessions [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	56,711,000		231,237,000		166,564,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	29,747,000		85,289,000		47,522,000
Food and beverage [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	24,822,000		74,665,000		72,771,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	26,124,000		60,812,000		58,662,000
Other revenues [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	38,742,000	[1]	87,805,000	[1]	78,329,000
Theatre operations [Member]
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	$ 92,232,000		$ 267,741,000		$ 217,851,000
Common Stock [Member]
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC:
Common Stock	$ (4.13)		$ 1.44		$ 1.96
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED:
Common Stock	(4.13)		1.35		1.86
Class B Common Stock [Member]
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - BASIC:
Common Stock	(3.74)		1.25		1.75
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE - DILUTED:
Common Stock	$ (3.74)		$ 1.24		$ 1.72

[1] Included in other revenues is an immaterial amount related to rental income that is not considered contract revenue from contracts with customers under ASU No. 2014-09.