Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Jan. 01, 2023	Jan. 02, 2022
Total revenues	$ 1,425,903	$ 1,358,236	$ 1,496,905
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	622,952	590,660	646,369
Selling, general and administrative expenses (including stock-based compensation of $11,387, $15,218 and $23,556 in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below)	247,883	169,403	213,181
Costs of products sold	110,397	108,146	125,728
Depreciation and amortization	115,086	117,124	114,434
Loss on impairment of park assets	22,956	16,943	0
Loss on disposal of assets	16,393	3,927	12,137
Operating income	290,236	352,033	385,056
Interest expense, net	158,256	141,590	152,436
Loss on debt extinguishment	13,982	17,533	0
Other (income) expense, net	9,208	(84)	13,403
Income before income taxes	108,790	192,994	219,217
Income tax expense	22,290	46,960	49,622
Net income	86,500	146,034	169,595
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(47,501)	(44,651)	(41,766)
Net income attributable to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation	$ 38,999	$ 101,383	$ 127,829
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	83,410	84,366	85,708
Diluted (in shares)	83,935	84,695	86,651
Net earnings per average common share outstanding:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 1.20	$ 1.49
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ 1.20	$ 1.48
Park admissions
Total revenues	$ 743,657	$ 735,415	$ 795,649
Park food, merchandise and other
Total revenues	614,036	570,965	655,451
Sponsorship, international agreements and accommodations
Total revenues	$ 68,210	$ 51,856	$ 45,805