Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Operating revenue
Cinema	$ 57,402	$ 49,473
Real estate	5,250	4,769
Total operating revenue	62,652	54,242
Operating expense
Cinema	46,333	41,473
Real estate	2,795	2,431
Depreciation and amortization	4,197	4,129
General and administrative	4,420	4,235
Total operating expense	57,745	52,268
Operating income	4,907	1,974
Interest income	201	433
Interest expense	(3,960)	(4,363)
Other expense	(45)	(19)
Income (loss) before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	1,103	(1,975)
Income tax expense	(1,625)	(636)
Loss before equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	(522)	(2,611)
Equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	413	364
Net loss	(109)	(2,247)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(130)	(233)
Net loss attributable to Reading International, Inc. common shareholders	$ (239)	$ (2,480)
Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to Reading International, Inc. shareholders	$ (0.01)	$ (0.11)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	22,710,713	22,709,672
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	22,710,713	22,709,672