Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Reading International Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member] Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	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, 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
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 (Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 194	$ 194	$ (2)	$ 192
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)
Net income (loss)									(26,429)		(26,429)	(74)			(26,503)
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, shares							2,000
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued
In-kind exchange of share for the exercise of options, net issued, shares
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 (Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 28	$ 28	$ (46)	$ (18)
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
Net income (loss)									(65,200)		(65,200)	(657)			(65,857)
Other comprehensive income, net								6,913	6,913			(11)			6,902
Share-based compensation expense									1,421	1,421					1,421
Share repurchase plan									(670)						(670)
Share repurchase plan, shares					(75,000)		(670,000)
Restricted Stock Units									(44)	(44)					(44)
Restricted Stock Units, shares					41,000
Contributions from noncontrolling stockholders												55			55
Distributions to noncontrolling stockholders												(250)			(250)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020					$ 231	$ 17		$ 12,502	$ 77,769	$ 149,979	$ (44,553)	$ 3,404			$ 81,173
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020					20,069,000	1,680,000	(40,407,000)						20,068,606	1,680,590