Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ 10,896	$ (12,034)	$ 6,482
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Income) loss recognized on foreign currency transactions	16	(59)	2,257
Equity (earnings) loss of unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	1,552	(1,345)	(117)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	1,119	1,352	1,167
Loss provision on impairment of asset	369	2,239	3,217
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	(1,589)	(352)	549
Deferred tax benefit	(15,028)
(Gain) loss on marketable securities	(25)		1,047
Gain in other operating income			(2,551)
Loss associated with contractual commitment			1,092
Gain on the sale of an unconsolidated entity			(268)
Gain on option termination			(1,530)
Gain on retirement of subordinated debt (trust preferred securities)			(10,714)
Depreciation and amortization	16,960	15,914	15,168
Amortization of prior service costs	832	112	(418)
Amortization of above and below market leases	427	924	772
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,276	1,402	775
Amortization of straight-line rent	782	(93)	977
Stock based compensation expense	939	821	916
Changes in assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	(1,468)	4,363	(494)
Increase in prepaid and other assets	(7)	(162)	(1,712)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses	833	115	238
Increase (decrease) in film rent payable	361	(1,841)	(942)
Increase in taxes payable	908	13,009	1,762
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue and other liabilities	5,100	(1,581)	305
Net cash provided by operating activities	24,253	22,784	17,978
Investing Activities
Acquisitions	(3,917)	(5,313)
Acquisition deposit paid	(200)		(706)
Purchases of and additions to property and equipment	(5,459)	(14,058)	(5,686)
Change in restricted cash	(168)	(1,838)	1,335
Cinema sale proceeds from noncontrolling shareholder	1,867
Purchase of marketable securities		(42)	(11,463)
Sale of marketable securities	143	30
Proceeds from note receivable	6,750
Option proceeds			285
Distributions of investment in unconsolidated joint ventures and entities		229	3,336
Purchase of notes receivable	(2,784)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,768)	(20,992)	(12,899)
Financing Activities
Repayment of long-term borrowings	(126,780)	(15,450)	(14,888)
Proceeds from borrowings	105,311	23,525	1,455
Capitalized borrowing costs	(774)	(1,347)
Repurchase of Class A Nonvoting Common	(747)	(251)
Proceeds from stock options		248	11
Noncontrolling interest contributions	233	225	175
Noncontrolling interest distributions	(654)	(1,406)	(1,147)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(23,411)	5,544	(14,394)
Effect of exchange rate on cash	(45)	2,620	3,053
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,971)	9,956	(6,262)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	34,568	24,612	30,874
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	31,597	34,568	24,612
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest on borrowings, net of amounts capitalized (see Note 6)	16,957	15,133	14,347
Income taxes	2,688	792	774
Non-Cash Transactions
Foreclosure of a mortgage note to obtain title of the underlying property	1,984
Reduction in note payable associated with acquisition purchase price adjustment		4,381
Deemed distribution		877
Capital lease asset addition		4,697
Capital lease obligation		5,573
Exchange of marketable securities for Reading International Trust I securities			(11,463)
Retirement of subordinated debt (trust preferred securities)			(23,634)
Retirement of Reading International Trust I securities			11,463
Retirement of investment in Reading International Trust I securities			$ 709