General - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Sep. 24, 2020	Jun. 25, 2020	Mar. 26, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 24, 2020
Beginning balance	$ 437,528	$ 457,855	$ 498,723	$ 572,980	$ 598,388	$ 621,458	$ 498,723	$ 621,458
Exercise of stock options	81	82	1,292	323	11	45
Purchase of treasury stock	(60)	(73)	(1,181)	(422)		(274)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,012			1,315
Reissuance of treasury stock	126	6	12	11	95	48
Share-based compensation	2,521	2,668	1,484	1,108	1,190	988
Equity component of issuance of convertible notes, net of tax and issuance costs				16,522
Capped call transactions, net of tax				(12,495)
Comprehensive income (loss)	2,110	(23,010)	(27,678)	(39,059)	(26,704)	(20,047)	(48,578)	(85,810)
Ending balance	442,306	437,528	457,855	538,968	572,980	598,388	442,306	538,968
Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 [Member] | Cumulative effect period of adoption adjustment
Beginning balance		(15,809)
Ending balance			(15,809)
Common Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	24,342	24,049	23,264	23,264	23,264	23,254	23,264	23,254
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			44
Issuance of non-vested stock		18	221
Forfeitures of non-vested stock	(2)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		275	520			10
Ending balance	24,340	24,342	24,049	23,264	23,264	23,264	24,340	23,264
Capital in Excess of Par [Member]
Beginning balance	140,916	138,446	153,529	147,690	146,694	145,549	153,529	145,549
Exercise of stock options	(44)	(40)	(659)	(68)	(4)	5
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			968			299
Reissuance of treasury stock	20	(1)	2	(1)	(17)	2
Issuance of non-vested stock		(157)	(367)	(158)	(172)	(149)
Forfeitures of non-vested stock	(137)
Share-based compensation	2,521	2,668	1,484	1,108	1,190	988
Equity component of issuance of convertible notes, net of tax and issuance costs				16,522
Other					(1)
Capped call transactions, net of tax				(12,495)
Ending balance	143,276	140,916	138,446	152,598	147,690	146,694	143,276	152,598
Capital in Excess of Par [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 [Member] | Cumulative effect period of adoption adjustment
Beginning balance		(16,511)
Ending balance			(16,511)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Beginning balance	281,102	304,468	331,897	410,359	437,387	461,884	331,897	461,884
Other			(1)		1
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,759	(23,366)	(28,130)	(39,440)	(27,029)	(19,352)
Ending balance	282,861	281,102	304,468	370,919	410,359	437,387	282,861	370,919
Retained Earnings [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 [Member] | Cumulative effect period of adoption adjustment
Beginning balance		702
Ending balance			702
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Beginning balance	(14,125)	(14,481)	(14,933)	(12,995)	(13,195)	(12,648)	(14,933)	(12,648)
Comprehensive income (loss)	351	356	452	381	200	(547)
Ending balance	(13,774)	(14,125)	(14,481)	(12,614)	(12,995)	(13,195)	(13,774)	(12,614)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	(1,838)	(2,033)	(2,960)	(3,264)	(3,563)	(4,540)	(2,960)	(4,540)
Exercise of stock options	125	122	1,951	391	15	40
Purchase of treasury stock	(60)	(73)	(1,181)	(422)		(274)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution						1,016
Reissuance of treasury stock	106	7	10	12	112	46
Issuance of non-vested stock		139	146	158	172	149
Forfeitures of non-vested stock	139
Other			1
Ending balance	(1,528)	(1,838)	(2,033)	(3,125)	(3,264)	(3,563)	(1,528)	(3,125)
Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Beginning balance	437,528	457,855	498,723	572,980	598,513	621,435	498,723	621,435
Exercise of stock options	81	82	1,292	323	11	45
Purchase of treasury stock	(60)	(73)	(1,181)	(422)		(274)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,012			1,315
Reissuance of treasury stock	126	6	12	11	95	48
Share-based compensation	2,521	2,668	1,484	1,108	1,190	988
Equity component of issuance of convertible notes, net of tax and issuance costs				16,522
Capped call transactions, net of tax				(12,495)
Comprehensive income (loss)	2,110	(23,010)	(27,678)	(39,059)	(26,829)	(19,899)
Ending balance	442,306	437,528	457,855	538,968	572,980	598,513	442,306	538,968
Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 [Member] | Cumulative effect period of adoption adjustment
Beginning balance		(15,809)
Ending balance			(15,809)
Non- controlling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance	0	0	0	0	(125)	23	0	23
Comprehensive income (loss)					125	(148)
Ending balance	0	0	0	0	0	(125)	0	0
Common Stock [Member]
Cash dividends:						(3,921)
Common Stock [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:						(3,921)
Common Stock [Member] | Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:						(3,921)
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Cash dividends:						(1,224)
Class B Common Stock [Member] | Common Stock [Member]
Beginning balance	7,131	7,406	7,926	7,926	7,926	7,936	7,926	7,936
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		(275)	(520)			(10)
Ending balance	$ 7,131	$ 7,131	$ 7,406	$ 7,926	$ 7,926	7,926	$ 7,131	$ 7,926
Class B Common Stock [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:						(1,224)
Class B Common Stock [Member] | Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:						$ (1,224)