General - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Apr. 01, 2021
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible Enumeration]		Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 453,614	$ 498,723
Exercise of stock options	26	1,292
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,373)	(1,181)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution	956	1,012
Reissuance of treasury stock	9	12
Shared-based compensation	2,917	1,484
Other	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(14,371)	(27,678)
Ending balance	441,778	457,855
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(15,809)
Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	453,614	498,723
Exercise of stock options	26	1,292
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,373)	(1,181)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution	956	1,012
Reissuance of treasury stock	9	12
Shared-based compensation	2,917	1,484
Other	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(14,371)	(27,678)
Ending balance	441,778	457,855
Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(15,809)
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	24,345	23,264
Savings and profit-sharing contribution	56	44
Issuance of non-vested stock	78	221
Conversions of Class B Common Stock	19	520
Ending balance	24,498	24,049
Capital in Excess of Par
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	145,656	153,529
Exercise of stock options	(5)	(659)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution	900	968
Reissuance of treasury stock	1	2
Issuance of non-vested stock	(236)	(367)
Shared-based compensation	2,917	1,484
Other	1
Ending balance	149,234	138,446
Capital in Excess of Par | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(16,511)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	289,306	331,897
Other	(1)	(1)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(14,902)	(28,130)
Ending balance	274,403	304,468
Retained Earnings | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		702
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(11,444)	(14,933)
Comprehensive income (loss)	531	452
Ending balance	(10,913)	(14,481)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,379)	(2,960)
Exercise of stock options	31	1,951
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,373)	(1,181)
Reissuance of treasury stock	8	10
Issuance of non-vested stock	158	146
Other	1
Ending balance	(2,555)	(2,033)
Non- controlling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)		0
Ending balance	0	0
Class B Common Stock | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	7,130	7,926
Conversions of Class B Common Stock	(19)	(520)
Ending balance	$ 7,111	$ 7,406