Revenue Recognition (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 27, 2018	Sep. 28, 2017	Sep. 27, 2018	Sep. 28, 2017	Dec. 29, 2017	Dec. 28, 2017	Dec. 29, 2016
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	[1]	$ 170,599	$ 162,375	$ 532,088	$ 487,971
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Advertising and marketing		6,178	6,296	17,317	17,880
Other operating expenses		8,969	8,300	27,032	24,255
Total costs and expenses		148,186	140,512	463,552	428,486
Operating income		22,413	21,863	68,536	59,485
Income taxes		2,626	6,908	12,254	18,571
Net earnings attributable to The Marcus Corporation		16,231	10,978	44,671	30,555
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Refundable income taxes		3,531		3,531			$ 15,335
Total current assets		57,368		57,368			76,721
Total assets		986,686		986,686			1,017,797
Other accrued liabilities		46,269		46,269			53,291
Total current liabilities		120,981		120,981			159,683
Deferred compensation and other		59,157		59,157			56,662
Retained earnings		433,022		433,022			403,206
Shareholders' equity attributable to The Marcus Corporation		482,931	415,203	482,931	415,203		445,024	$ 390,112
Total equity		483,036		483,036			445,124
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		986,686		986,686			$ 1,017,797
Previously Reported [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues	[2]	169,794		528,950
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Advertising and marketing	[2]	6,674		18,866
Other operating expenses	[2]	8,059		23,518
Total costs and expenses	[2]	147,448		460,639
Operating income	[2]	22,346		68,311
Income taxes	[2]	2,617		12,206
Net earnings attributable to The Marcus Corporation	[2]	16,173		44,494
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Refundable income taxes	[2]	2,586		2,586
Total current assets	[2]	56,423		56,423
Total assets	[2]	985,741		985,741
Other accrued liabilities	[2]	42,630		42,630
Total current liabilities	[2]	117,342		117,342
Deferred compensation and other	[2]	59,058		59,058
Retained earnings	[2]	435,815		435,815
Shareholders' equity attributable to The Marcus Corporation	[2]	485,724		485,724
Total equity	[2]	485,829		485,829
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	[2]	985,741		985,741
Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Total revenues		805		3,138
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Advertising and marketing		(496)		(1,549)
Other operating expenses		910		3,514
Total costs and expenses		738		2,913
Operating income		67		225
Income taxes		9		48
Net earnings attributable to The Marcus Corporation		58		177
Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Refundable income taxes		945		945		$ 945
Total current assets		945		945
Total assets		945		945
Other accrued liabilities		3,639		3,639		3,296
Total current liabilities		3,639		3,639
Deferred compensation and other		99		99		217
Retained earnings		(2,793)		(2,793)		$ (2,568)
Shareholders' equity attributable to The Marcus Corporation		(2,793)		(2,793)
Total equity		(2,793)		(2,793)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		945		945
Theatre admissions [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		52,422	50,246	185,035	166,222
Theatre admissions [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	[2]	53,027		186,996
Theatre admissions [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		(605)		(1,961)
Theatre concessions [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		35,476	33,290	123,687	109,365
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold		10,168	9,567	35,105	30,666
Theatre concessions [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	[2]	34,973		122,220
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	[2]	10,009		34,636
Theatre concessions [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		503		1,467
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold		159		469
Food and beverage [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		19,333	18,670	53,972	52,487
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold		14,966	15,125	43,930	44,093
Food and beverage [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	[2]	19,330		53,949
Food and beverage [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		3		23
Other revenues [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		19,813	18,827	59,362	53,629
Other revenues [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	[2]	18,909		55,753
Other revenues [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		904		3,609
Theatre operations [Member]
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold		48,644	$ 44,403	164,452	$ 145,844
Theatre operations [Member] | Previously Reported [Member]
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	[2]	48,479		163,973
Theatre operations [Member] | Restatement Adjustment [Member]
Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Cost of Goods and Services Sold		$ 165		$ 479

[1] Revenues include cost reimbursements of $9,088 for the 13 weeks ended September 27, 2018 (Theatres - $218, Hotels/Resorts - $8,870); $8,557 for the 13 weeks ended September 28, 2017 (Theatres - $500, Hotels/Resorts - $8,057); $25,776 for the 39 weeks ended September 27, 2018 (Theatres - $1,084, Hotels/Resorts - $24,692); and $23,424 for the 39 weeks ended September 28, 2017 (Theatres - $1,659, Hotels/Resorts - $21,765).

[2] The amounts reflect each affected financial statement line item as they would have been reported under US GAAP prior to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09.