Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets(USD ($))	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Class A [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Class A [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Class B [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Class B [Member]
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 22,678,000	$ 31,597,000
Time deposits	8,000,000
Receivables	6,762,000	6,973,000
Inventory	758,000	1,035,000
Investment in marketable securities	49,000	2,874,000
Restricted cash	2,377,000	2,379,000
Deferred tax asset	3,525,000	1,985,000
Prepaid and other current assets	3,893,000	3,781,000
Assets held for sale	2,100,000	1,848,000
Total current assets	50,142,000	52,472,000
Non-Current Assets
Property held for and under development	95,817,000	91,698,000
Property & equipment, net	211,640,000	215,428,000
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	7,648,000	7,839,000
Investment in Reading International Trust I	838,000	838,000
Goodwill	22,536,000	22,277,000
Intangible assets, net	16,817,000	17,999,000
Deferred tax asset, net	10,468,000	12,399,000
Other assets	11,151,000	9,814,000
Total assets	427,057,000	430,764,000
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	16,645,000	16,905,000
Film rent payable	5,948,000	6,162,000
Notes payable - current portion	21,795,000	29,630,000
Taxes payable	14,638,000	14,858,000
Deferred current revenue	8,707,000	10,271,000
Other current liabilities	204,000	137,000
Total current liabilities	67,937,000	77,963,000
Non-Current Liabilities
Notes payable - long-term portion	144,914,000	143,071,000
Note payable to related party - long-term portion	9,000,000	9,000,000
Subordinated debt	27,913,000	27,913,000
Noncurrent tax liabilities	10,508,000	12,191,000
Other liabilities	36,955,000	35,639,000
Total liabilities	297,227,000	305,777,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock			221,000	220,000	15,000	15,000
Nonvoting preferred stock, par value $0.01, 12,000 shares authorized and no issued or outstanding shares at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2011
Additional paid-in capital	135,691,000	135,171,000
Accumulated deficit	(66,082,000)	(66,079,000)
Treasury shares	(4,512,000)	(4,512,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	59,875,000	58,937,000
Total Reading International, Inc. stockholders' equity	125,208,000	123,752,000
Noncontrolling interests	4,622,000	1,235,000
Total stockholders' equity	129,830,000	124,987,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 427,057,000	$ 430,764,000