Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Shares [Member] Class A [Member]	Common Shares [Member] Class B [Member]	Treasury Shares [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]	Reading International Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Class A [Member]	Class B [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 230	$ 17		$ 12,075	$ 142,472	$ 144,569	$ 1,955	$ 4,418			$ 146,890
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016	21,498,000	1,680,000	(16,374,000)
Net income (loss)					30,865		30,865	11			30,876
Other comprehensive income, 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)
Share repurchase plan, shares	(410,000)		(6,532,000)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised	$ 1				330	329					330
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised, shares	90,000
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued, shares	23,000
Restricted Stock Units, shares	50,000
Contributions from noncontrolling stockholders								193			193
Distributions to noncontrolling stockholders								(310)			(310)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 231	$ 17		20,991	177,051	145,898	32,820	4,331			181,382
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017	21,251,000	1,680,000	(22,906,000)
Net income (loss)					14,034		14,034	132			14,166
Adjustments to opening retained earnings on adoption of ASC | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]					194		194	(2)			192
Other comprehensive income, net				(14,876)	(14,876)			(15)			(14,891)
Share-based compensation expense					1,458	1,458					1,458
Share repurchase plan					(2,316)						(2,316)
Share repurchase plan, shares	(149,000)		(2,316,000)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised					219	219					219
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised, shares	35,000
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued	$ 1				(73)	(74)					(73)
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued, shares	13,000
Restricted Stock Units					(49)	(49)					(49)
Restricted Stock Units, shares	45,000
Contributions from noncontrolling stockholders								82			82
Distributions to noncontrolling stockholders								(191)			(191)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 232	$ 17		6,115	175,642	147,452	47,048	4,337			179,979
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	21,195,000	1,680,000	(25,222,000)						21,194,748	1,680,590
Net income (loss)					(26,429)		(26,429)	(74)			(26,503)
Adjustments to opening retained earnings on adoption of ASC | Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]					28		28	(46)			(18)
Other comprehensive income, net				(526)	(526)			2			(524)
Share-based compensation expense					1,463	1,463					1,463
Share repurchase plan					(14,518)						(14,518)
Share repurchase plan, shares	(1,159,000)		(14,518,000)
Class A common stock issued for share-based bonuses and options exercised					(185)	(185)					(185)
Retirements	$ (2)				2						2
Retirements			$ 2
Restricted Stock Units	$ 1				(128)	(128)					(128)
Restricted Stock Units, shares	66,000
Contributions from noncontrolling stockholders								90			90
Distributions to noncontrolling stockholders								(42)			(42)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 231	$ 17		$ 5,589	$ 135,349	$ 148,602	$ 20,647	$ 4,267			$ 139,616
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	20,103,000	1,680,000	(39,737,000)						20,102,535	1,680,590