General - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jul. 01, 2021	Apr. 01, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jul. 01, 2021
Accounting standards update [Extensible Enumeration]				Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 441,778	$ 453,614	$ 457,855	$ 498,723	$ 453,614	$ 498,723
Exercise of stock options	53	26	82	1,292
Purchase of treasury stock	(104)	(1,373)	(73)	(1,181)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		956		1,012
Reissuance of treasury stock	7	9	6	12
Issuance of non-vested stock	0	0	0	0
Shared-based compensation	1,655	2,917	2,668	1,484
Other	0	0		0
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	9,344	(14,371)	(23,010)	(27,678)	(5,027)	(50,688)
Ending balance	452,733	441,778	437,528	457,855	452,733	437,528
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(15,809)		(15,809)
Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	441,778	453,614	457,855	498,723	453,614	498,723
Exercise of stock options	53	26	82	1,292
Purchase of treasury stock	(104)	(1,373)	(73)	(1,181)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		956		1,012
Reissuance of treasury stock	7	9	6	12
Issuance of non-vested stock	0	0
Shared-based compensation	1,655	2,917	2,668	1,484
Other	0	0		0
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		0
Comprehensive income (loss)	9,344	(14,371)	(23,010)	(27,678)
Ending balance	452,733	441,778	437,528	457,855	452,733	437,528
Shareholders’ Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(15,809)		(15,809)
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	24,498	24,345	24,049	23,264	24,345	23,264
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		56		44
Issuance of non-vested stock	0	78	18	221
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		19	275	520
Ending balance	24,498	24,498	24,342	24,049	24,498	24,342
Capital in Excess of Par
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	149,234	145,656	138,446	153,529	145,656	153,529
Exercise of stock options	(16)	(5)	(40)	(659)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		900		968
Reissuance of treasury stock	(2)	1	(1)	2
Issuance of non-vested stock	(305)	(236)	(157)	(367)
Shared-based compensation	1,655	2,917	2,668	1,484
Other	(1)	1
Ending balance	150,565	149,234	140,916	138,446	150,565	140,916
Capital in Excess of Par | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				(16,511)		(16,511)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	274,403	289,306	304,468	331,897	289,306	331,897
Other	1	(1)		(1)
Comprehensive income (loss)	8,960	(14,902)	(23,366)	(28,130)
Ending balance	283,364	274,403	281,102	304,468	283,364	281,102
Retained Earnings | Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				702		702
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(10,913)	(11,444)	(14,481)	(14,933)	(11,444)	(14,933)
Comprehensive income (loss)	384	531	356	452
Ending balance	(10,529)	(10,913)	(14,125)	(14,481)	(10,529)	(14,125)
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(2,555)	(1,379)	(2,033)	(2,960)	(1,379)	(2,960)
Exercise of stock options	69	31	122	1,951
Purchase of treasury stock	(104)	(1,373)	(73)	(1,181)
Reissuance of treasury stock	9	8	7	10
Issuance of non-vested stock	305	158	139	146
Other				1
Ending balance	(2,276)	(2,555)	(1,838)	(2,033)	(2,276)	(1,838)
Non- controlling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	0	0	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)			0	0
Ending balance	0	0	0	0	0	0
Class B Common Stock | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	7,111	7,130	7,406	7,926	7,130	7,926
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		(19)	(275)	(520)
Ending balance	$ 7,111	$ 7,111	$ 7,131	$ 7,406	$ 7,111	$ 7,131