Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues
Total revenues	$ 77,862	$ 276,768	$ 308,931
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(22,317)	(22,747)	(22,275)
General and administrative	(16,998)	(25,395)	(27,337)
Impairment of long-lived assets	(217)
Total costs and expenses	(139,175)	(267,645)	(285,307)
Operating income (loss)	(61,313)	9,123	23,624
Interest expense, net	(9,354)	(7,904)	(6,837)
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	(1)	(2)	(41)
Other income (expense)	293	325	(256)
Income (loss) before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(70,375)	1,542	16,490
Equity earnings (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures	(449)	792	974
Income (loss) before income taxes	(70,824)	2,334	17,464
Income tax benefit (expense)	4,967	(28,837)	(3,298)
Net income (loss)	(65,857)	(26,503)	14,166
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(657)	(74)	132
Net income (loss) attributable to Reading International, Inc. common shareholders	$ (65,200)	$ (26,429)	$ 14,034
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Reading International, Inc. shareholders	$ (3.00)	$ (1.17)	$ 0.61
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Reading International, Inc. shareholders	$ (3.00)	$ (1.17)	$ 0.60
Weighted average number of shares outstanding-basic	21,749,155	22,631,754	22,991,277
Weighted average number of shares outstanding-diluted	22,215,511	22,784,122	23,208,991
Cinema [Member]
Revenues
Total revenues	$ 67,014	$ 262,189	$ 293,723
Costs and expenses
Total costs and expenses	(91,065)	(210,050)	(225,791)
Real Estate [Member]
Revenues
Total revenues	10,848	14,579	15,208
Costs and expenses
Total costs and expenses	$ (8,578)	$ (9,453)	$ (9,904)