Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member] Class A [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Class B [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Treasury Shares [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]	Reading International Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 228	$ 15	$ 140,237	$ (30,833)	$ (8,582)	$ 28,039	$ 129,104	$ 4,612	$ 133,716
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	21,741	1,495
Net income (loss)				23,110			23,110	(79)	23,031	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net						(16,233)	(16,233)	(46)	(16,279)
Share-based compensation expense			1,458				1,458		1,458
Share-based compensation expense, shares	7
Share repurchase plan					(3,110)		(3,110)		(3,110)
Share repurchase plan, shares	(240)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised	$ 2		490				492		492
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised, shares	235
In-kind exchange of shares for the exercise of options, net issued	$ (1)	$ 2	1,630		(1,832)		(201)		(201)
In-kind exchange of shares for the exercise of options, net issued, shares	(89)
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders		185						17	17
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(173)	(173)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 229	$ 17	143,815	(7,723)	(13,524)	11,806	134,620	4,331	138,951
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	21,654	1,680
Net income (loss)				9,403			9,403	14	9,417	[1]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net						269	269	(1)	268
Share-based compensation expense			609				609		609
Share repurchase plan					(2,850)		(2,850)		(2,850)
Share repurchase plan, shares	(181)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised	$ 2		145				147		147
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised, shares	13
In-kind exchange of shares for the exercise of options, net issued	$ (1)						(1)		(1)
In-kind exchange of shares for the exercise of options, net issued, shares	12
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								268	268
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(194)	(194)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 230	$ 17	144,569	1,680	(16,374)	12,075	142,197	4,418	146,615	[2]
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016	21,498	1,680
Net income (loss)				30,999			30,999	11	31,010
Other comprehensive income (loss), net						8,916	8,916	19	8,935
Share-based compensation expense			1,000				1,000		1,000
Share repurchase plan					(6,532)		(6,532)		(6,532)
Share repurchase plan, shares	(410)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised	$ 1		329				330		330
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised, shares	90
In-kind exchange of shares for the exercise of options, net issued, shares	23
Vested options, shares	50
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								193	193
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(310)	(310)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 231	$ 17	$ 145,898	$ 32,679	$ (22,906)	$ 20,991	$ 176,910	$ 4,331	$ 181,241
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017	21,251	1,680

[1] Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Reclassifications).

[2] Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Reclassifications).