Supplemental Information to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental [Line Items]
Cash paid for interest	$ 116,890		$ 117,172		$ 113,084
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received	136,124		89,034		29,106
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in accounts payable and accrued expenses for the acquisition of theatre properties and equipment	7,325	[1]	(13,827)	[1]	7,349	[1]
Theatre properties and equipment acquired under capital lease	69,541		18,754		6,696
Change in fair market values of interest rate swap agreements, net of taxes	3,151		1,827		4,867
Investment in NCM - receipt of common units (See Note 6)	98,797		9,137		9,302
Dividends accrued on unvested restricted stock unit awards	(772)		(894)		(684)
Change in fair market value of available-for-sale securities, net of taxes (See Note 8)	(2,042)		2,499		(13,566)
RealD
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Investment in affiliates					3,402
AC JV, LLC
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Investment in AC JV, LLC (see Note 16)	8,333
Issuance of promissory note related to investment in AC JV, LLC (see Note 16)	$ (8,333)

[1] Additions to theatre properties and equipment included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2012 and 2013 were $4,685 and $12,010, respectively.