Consolidated Statements Of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Revenue
Cinema	$ 234,703,000	$ 225,849,000	$ 211,073,000
Real estate	19,727,000	19,130,000	18,249,000
Total operating revenue	254,430,000	244,979,000	229,322,000
Operating expense
Cinema	190,511,000	182,215,000	171,795,000
Real estate	11,163,000	10,190,000	9,049,000
Depreciation and amortization	16,049,000	16,595,000	15,563,000
General and administrative	16,117,000	17,432,000	17,607,000
Impairment expense	1,463,000	369,000	2,239,000
Total operating expense	235,303,000	226,801,000	216,253,000
Operating income	19,127,000	18,178,000	13,069,000
Interest income	800,000	1,482,000	1,351,000
Interest expense	(17,226,000)	(22,520,000)	(13,637,000)
Net gain (loss) on sale of assets	144,000	(67,000)	352,000
Other income (expense)	(563,000)	1,157,000	(347,000)
Income (loss) before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	2,282,000	(1,770,000)	788,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(4,904,000)	12,330,000	(14,264,000)
Income (loss) before equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	(2,622,000)	10,560,000	(13,476,000)
Equity earnings (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures and entities	1,621,000	(1,552,000)	1,345,000
Income (loss) before discontinued operations	(1,001,000)	9,008,000	(12,131,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(85,000)	232,000	97,000
Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations	(320,000)	1,656,000
Net income (loss)	(1,406,000)	10,896,000	(12,034,000)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	492,000	(940,000)	(616,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Reading International, Inc. common shareholders	$ (914,000)	$ 9,956,000	$ (12,650,000)
Basic income (loss) per common share attributable to Reading International, Inc. shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ (0.02)	$ 0.36	$ (0.56)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net	$ (0.02)	$ 0.08
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Reading International, Inc. shareholders	$ (0.04)	$ 0.44	$ (0.56)
Diluted income (loss) per common share attributable to Reading International, Inc. shareholders:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ (0.02)	$ 0.35	$ (0.56)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net	$ (0.02)	$ 0.08
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Reading International Inc. shareholders	$ (0.04)	$ 0.43	$ (0.56)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic	23,028,596	22,764,666	22,781,392
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - diluted	23,028,596	22,993,135	22,781,392