Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Reconciliation of weighted-average basic and diluted shares (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018	Sep. 27, 2018	Jun. 28, 2018	Mar. 29, 2018	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018	Dec. 28, 2017
Numerator:
Net earnings attributable to The Marcus Corporation	$ 7,802	$ 14,289	$ 18,066	$ 1,860	$ 8,720	$ 16,231	$ 18,619	$ 9,821	$ 42,017	$ 53,391	$ 64,996
Denominator:
Denominator for basic EPS									30,656	28,105	27,789
Effect of dilutive employee stock options									496	608	614
Denominator for diluted EPS									31,152	28,713	28,403
Common Stock [Member]
Net earnings per share - Basic:
Common Stock									$ 1.44	$ 1.96	$ 2.42
Net earnings per share- Diluted:
Common Stock									1.35	1.86	2.29
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Net earnings per share - Basic:
Common Stock									1.25	1.75	2.17
Net earnings per share- Diluted:
Common Stock									$ 1.24	$ 1.72	$ 2.13