CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net earnings (loss)	$ (124,866,000)	$ 42,115,000	$ 53,465,000
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Losses on investments in joint ventures	1,539,000	274,000	399,000
Distributions from joint ventures	0	200,000	65,000
Loss (gain) on disposition of property, equipment and other assets	(856,000)	1,149,000	1,342,000
Impairment charges	24,676,000	1,874,000	0
Amortization of favorable lease right	0	0	334,000
Depreciation and amortization	75,052,000	72,277,000	61,342,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount	2,235,000	285,000	287,000
Share-based compensation	4,385,000	3,523,000	2,691,000
Deferred income taxes	(38,836,000)	9,111,000	3,247,000
Other long-term obligations	2,969,000	1,011,000	3,339,000
Contribution of the Company's stock to savings and profit-sharing plan	1,315,000	1,181,000	1,130,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	23,106,000	(3,781,000)	1,546,000
Government grants receivable	(4,913,000)	0	0
Other assets	3,476,000	1,102,000	(1,946,000)
Operating leases	9,185,000	(3,355,000)	0
Accounts payable	(32,131,000)	9,733,000	(4,232,000)
Income taxes	1,467,000	67,000	10,297,000
Taxes other than income taxes	(2,305,000)	1,664,000	(895,000)
Accrued compensation	(10,422,000)	508,000	1,920,000
Other accrued liabilities	(3,630,000)	2,541,000	3,058,000
Total adjustments	56,312,000	99,364,000	83,924,000
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(68,554,000)	141,479,000	137,389,000
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(21,363,000)	(64,086,000)	(58,660,000)
Acquisition of theatres, net of cash acquired and working capital assumed	0	(30,081,000)	0
Proceeds from disposals of property, equipment and other assets	4,485,000	22,000	116,000
Capital contribution in joint venture	(28,000)	0	(294,000)
Proceeds from sale of trading securities	5,184,000	0	0
Purchase of trading securities	(801,000)	0	0
Other investing activities	450,000	199,000	(429,000)
Net cash used in investing activities	(12,073,000)	(93,946,000)	(59,267,000)
Debt transactions:
Proceeds from borrowings on revolving credit facility	221,500,000	335,000,000	203,000,000
Repayment of borrowings on revolving credit facility	(302,500,000)	(333,000,000)	(254,000,000)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	90,800,000	0	0
Repayment on short-term borrowings	(2,955,000)	0	0
Proceeds from convertible senior notes	100,050,000	0	0
Principal payments on long-term debt	(9,447,000)	(24,620,000)	(12,153,000)
Proceeds received from PPP loans expected to be repaid	3,424,000	0	0
Principal payments on finance lease obligations	(2,007,000)	(2,544,000)	(1,836,000)
Debt issuance costs	(7,560,000)	0	0
Equity transactions:
Treasury stock transactions, except for stock options	(534,000)	(702,000)	(2,523,000)
Exercise of stock options	379,000	1,520,000	7,048,000
Capped call transactions	(16,908,000)	0	0
Dividends paid	(5,145,000)	(19,311,000)	(16,414,000)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	0	(185,000)	(64,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	69,097,000	(43,842,000)	(76,942,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(11,530,000)	3,691,000	1,180,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	25,618,000	21,927,000	20,747,000
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	14,088,000	25,618,000	21,927,000
Supplemental Information:
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized	10,885,000	10,281,000	11,434,000
Change in accounts payable for additions to property and equipment	$ (4,081,000)	$ 2,185,000	$ (9,857,000)