General - Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jul. 01, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jul. 01, 2021
Numerator:
Net earnings (loss) attributable to The Marcus Corporation	$ 8,960	$ (23,366)	$ (5,942)	$ (51,496)
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS (in shares)	31,492	31,404	31,469	31,300
Effect of dilutive employee stock options (in shares)	40	0	0	0
Effect of convertible notes (in shares)	9,085	0	0	0
Denominator for diluted EPS (in shares)	40,617	31,404	31,469	31,300
Common Stock
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	$ (0.76)	$ (0.19)	$ (1.71)
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	0.24	(0.76)	(0.19)	(1.71)
Class B Common Stock
Net earnings (loss) per share - basic:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	0.26	(0.68)	(0.18)	(1.44)
Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ (0.68)	$ (0.18)	$ (1.44)