Noncontrolling Interests (Summary Of Changes In Controlling And Non-controlling Stockholders’ Equity) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Balance	$ 177,697,000	$ 179,946,000	$ 180,547,000	$ 181,608,000	$ 184,167,000	$ 181,618,000	$ 180,547,000	$ 181,618,000
Net income	852,000	2,357,000	(2,097,000)	1,259,000	5,128,000	3,104,000	1,112,000	9,493,000
Other comprehensive income, net	(6,569,000)	(2,347,000)	1,511,000	(3,493,000)	(7,915,000)	(753,000)
Share-based compensation expense	417,000	400,000	280,000	348,000	338,000	379,000
Share repurchase plan	(8,690,000)	(2,622,000)	(9,000)		(80,000)	(317,000)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised			(185,000)	158,000		61,000
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued				1,000	1,000	(75,000)
Restricted Stock Units	(22,000)	(31,000)	(74,000)	(15,000)	(8,000)	(26,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling stockholders	28,000	9,000	18,000	21,000	27,000	27,000
Distributions to noncontrolling stockholders		(15,000)	(27,000)	(24,000)	(50,000)	(43,000)
Balance	163,713,000	177,697,000	179,946,000	179,863,000	181,608,000	184,167,000	163,713,000	179,863,000
Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]
Balance	147,841,000	147,472,000	147,452,000	146,567,000	146,237,000	145,898,000	147,452,000	145,898,000
Share-based compensation expense	417,000	400,000	280,000	348,000	338,000	379,000
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised			(185,000)	158,000		61,000
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued				1,000		(75,000)
Restricted Stock Units	(22,000)	(31,000)	(75,000)	(15,000)	(8,000)	(26,000)
Balance	148,236,000	147,841,000	147,472,000	147,059,000	146,567,000	146,237,000	148,236,000	147,059,000
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]
Balance	47,957,000	45,563,000	47,616,000	41,358,000	36,332,000	33,056,000	47,616,000	33,056,000
Net income	902,000	2,394,000	(2,081,000)	1,297,000	5,026,000	3,082,000
Balance	$ 48,859,000	$ 47,957,000	$ 45,563,000	$ 42,655,000	$ 41,358,000	$ 36,332,000	$ 48,859,000	$ 42,655,000
Treasury Shares [Member]
Balance, shares	(27,853)	(25,231)	(25,222)	(23,303)	(23,223)	(22,906)	(25,222)	(22,906)
Share repurchase plan, shares	(8,690)	(2,622)	(9)		(80)	(317)
Retirements	$ 2
Balance, shares	(36,541)	(27,853)	(25,231)	(23,303)	(23,303)	(23,223)	(36,541)	(23,303)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]
Balance	$ 5,279,000	$ 7,625,000	$ 6,115,000	$ 12,331,000	$ 20,241,000	$ 20,991,000	$ 6,115,000	$ 20,991,000
Other comprehensive income, net	(6,567,000)	(2,346,000)	1,510,000	(3,488,000)	(7,910,000)	(750,000)
Balance	(1,288,000)	5,279,000	7,625,000	8,843,000	12,331,000	20,241,000	(1,288,000)	8,843,000
Reading International Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Balance	173,474,000	175,679,000	176,210,000	177,202,000	179,835,000	177,287,000	176,210,000	177,287,000
Net income	902,000	2,394,000	(2,081,000)	1,297,000	5,026,000	3,082,000
Other comprehensive income, net	(6,567,000)	(2,346,000)	1,510,000	(3,488,000)	(7,910,000)	(750,000)
Share-based compensation expense	417,000	400,000	280,000	348,000	338,000	379,000
Share repurchase plan	(8,690,000)	(2,622,000)	(9,000)		(80,000)	(317,000)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised			(185,000)	158,000		61,000
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued				1,000	1,000	(75,000)
Restricted Stock Units	(22,000)	(31,000)	(74,000)	(15,000)	(8,000)	(26,000)
Balance	159,514,000	173,474,000	175,679,000	175,503,000	177,202,000	179,835,000	159,514,000	175,503,000
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance	4,223,000	4,267,000	4,337,000	4,406,000	4,332,000	4,331,000	4,337,000	4,331,000
Net income	(50,000)	(37,000)	(16,000)	(38,000)	102,000	22,000
Other comprehensive income, net	(2,000)	(1,000)	1,000	(5,000)	(5,000)	(3,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling stockholders	28,000	9,000	18,000	21,000	27,000	27,000
Distributions to noncontrolling stockholders		(15,000)	(27,000)	(24,000)	(50,000)	(43,000)
Balance	$ 4,199,000	4,223,000	4,267,000	4,360,000	4,406,000	4,332,000	$ 4,199,000	4,360,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]
Adjustments to opening retained earnings on adoption of ASC 842			(18,000)			192,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]
Adjustments to opening retained earnings on adoption of ASC 842			28,000			194,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Reading International Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Adjustments to opening retained earnings on adoption of ASC 842			28,000			194,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Adjustments to opening retained earnings on adoption of ASC 842			$ (46,000)			(2,000)
Class A [Member]
Balance, shares			33,112,337				33,112,337
Balance, shares	32,963,489						32,963,489
Class A [Member] | Common Stock Shares Outstanding [Member]
Balance	$ 233,000	$ 233,000	$ 232,000	$ 232,000	$ 231,000	$ 231,000	$ 232,000	$ 231,000
Balance, shares	21,071	21,235	21,195	21,290	21,295	21,251	21,195	21,251
Share repurchase plan, shares	(660)	(197)		(5)	(5)	(19)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised, shares				25		10
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued					$ 1,000
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued, shares				5		9
Restricted Stock Units			$ 1,000
Restricted Stock Units, shares	(6)	33	40			44
Retirements	$ (2,000)
Balance	$ 231,000	$ 233,000	$ 233,000	$ 232,000	$ 232,000	$ 231,000	$ 231,000	$ 232,000
Balance, shares	20,405	21,071	21,235	21,315	21,290	21,295	20,405	21,315
Class B [Member]
Balance, shares			1,680,590				1,680,590
Balance, shares	1,680,590						1,680,590
Class B [Member] | Common Stock Shares Outstanding [Member]
Balance	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000
Balance, shares	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680
Balance	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000
Balance, shares	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680	1,680