Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) Share data in Thousands	Common Stock [Member] Class A [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Class B [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]	Reading International, Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 215,000	$ 15,000	$ 134,044,000	$ (3,514,000)	$ (63,385,000)	$ 41,514,000	$ 108,889,000	$ 1,374,000	$ 110,263,000
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009	21,133	1,495
Net income (loss)					(12,650,000)		(12,650,000)	616,000	(12,034,000)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						15,606,000	15,606,000	43,000	15,649,000
Stock option and restricted stock compensation expense			821,000				821,000		821,000
Purchase of treasury shares				(251,000)			(251,000)		(251,000)
Purchase of treasury shares, shares	(63)
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised	1,000		248,000				249,000		249,000
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised, shares	239
Deemed distribution from capital lease			(877,000)				(877,000)		(877,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								225,000	225,000
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(1,406,000)	(1,406,000)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	216,000	15,000	134,236,000	(3,765,000)	(76,035,000)	57,120,000	111,787,000	852,000	112,639,000
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	21,309	1,495
Net income (loss)					9,956,000		9,956,000	940,000	10,896,000
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						1,817,000	1,817,000	11,000	1,828,000
Stock option and restricted stock compensation expense	4,000		935,000				939,000		939,000
Purchase of treasury shares				(747,000)			(747,000)		(747,000)
Purchase of treasury shares, shares	(172)
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised, shares	174
Cinema sale to noncontrolling shareholder								(147,000)	(147,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								233,000	233,000
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(654,000)	(654,000)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	220,000	15,000	135,171,000	(4,512,000)	(66,079,000)	58,937,000	123,752,000	1,235,000	124,987,000
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	21,311	1,495
Net income (loss)					(914,000)		(914,000)	(492,000)	(1,406,000)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax						2,432,000	2,432,000	5,000	2,437,000
Stock option and restricted stock compensation expense	2,000		1,276,000				1,278,000		1,278,000
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised	1,000		307,000				308,000		308,000
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised, shares	277
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								3,350,000	3,350,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 223,000	$ 15,000	$ 136,754,000	$ (4,512,000)	$ (66,993,000)	$ 61,369,000	$ 126,856,000	$ 4,098,000	$ 130,954,000
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	21,588	1,495