Supplemental Information to Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Cash Flow, Supplemental [Line Items]
Cash paid for interest		$ 105,155	$ 107,926	$ 116,890
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds received		108,435	122,972	136,124
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in accounts payable and accrued expenses for the acquisition of theatre properties and equipment	[1]	2,491	(1,225)	(7,325)
Theatre properties and equipment acquired under capital lease		36,544	19,908	69,541
Investment in NCM - receipt of common units (See Note 6)		15,421	8,216	98,797
Dividends accrued on unvested restricted stock unit awards		(593)	$ (530)	(772)
Receipt of promissory note related to sale of investment in a Taiwan joint venture		2,634
Other Affiliates
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Investment in AC JV, LLC (see Note 7)				8,333
Other Affiliates | AC JV, LLC
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Investment in AC JV, LLC (see Note 7)				8,333
Issuance of promissory note related to investment in AC JV, LLC (see Note 7)				$ (8,333)
Other Affiliates | Taiwan Joint Venture
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Receipt of promissory note related to sale of investment in a Taiwan joint venture		$ 2,304

[1] Additions to theatre properties and equipment included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2014 and 2015 were $13,235 and $10,744, respectively.