Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2020	May 01, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 26, 2020
Entity File Number	1-12604
Entity Registrant Name	MARCUS CORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	WI
Entity Tax Identification Number	39-1139844
Entity Address, Address Line One	100 East
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Wisconsin Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Three	Suite 1900
Entity Address, City or Town	Milwaukee
Entity Address, State or Province	WI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	53202-4125
City Area Code	414
Local Phone Number	905-1000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $1.00 par value
Trading Symbol	MCS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0000062234
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,131,830
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,925,254