Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member] Class A [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Class B [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [Member]	Reading International Inc. Stockholders Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Total
Equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 223	$ 15	$ 136,754	$ (66,993)	$ (4,512)	$ 61,369	$ 126,856	$ 4,098	$ 130,954
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	21,588,000	1,495,000
Net income (loss)				9,041			9,041	104	9,145	[1]
Other comprehensive loss						(19,854)	(19,854)	(107)	(19,961)
Stock option and restricted stock compensation expense	$ 2		948				950		950
In-kind exchange of stock for the exercise of options, net issued, shares	22,000
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised			248				248		248
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised, shares	280,000
Conversion of noncontrolling interest to equity			(101)				(101)	101
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								2,513	2,513
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(2,102)	(2,102)
Equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 225	$ 15	137,849	(57,952)	(4,512)	41,515	117,140	4,607	121,747
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	21,890,000	1,495,000
Net income (loss)				25,701			25,701	(57)	25,644	[1]
Other comprehensive loss						(13,476)	(13,476)	(41)	(13,517)
Stock option and restricted stock compensation expense	$ 3		1,410				1,413		1,413
Treasury stock purchased					(4,070)		(4,070)		$ (4,070)
Stock repurchase plan, shares	(432,000)								(432,252)
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised			978				978		$ 978
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised, shares	283,000
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								327	327
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(224)	(224)
Equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 228	$ 15	140,237	(32,251)	(8,582)	28,039	127,686	4,612	132,298	[1]
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	21,741,000	1,495,000
Equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 225	$ 15	137,849	(57,952)	(4,512)	41,515	117,140	4,607	121,747
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	21,890,000	1,495,000
Treasury stock purchased									$ (7,178)
Stock repurchase plan, shares									(672,354)
Equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 229	$ 17	143,815	(9,478)	(13,524)	11,806	132,865	4,331	$ 137,196
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	21,654,000	1,680,000
Equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 228	$ 15	140,237	(32,251)	(8,582)	28,039	127,686	4,612	132,298	[1]
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	21,741,000	1,495,000
Net income (loss)				22,773			22,773	(79)	22,694
Other comprehensive loss						(16,233)	(16,233)	(46)	(16,279)
Stock option and restricted stock compensation expense			1,458				1,458		1,458
Stock option and restricted stock compensation expense, shares	7,000
Treasury stock purchased					(3,110)		(3,110)		$ (3,110)
Stock repurchase plan, shares	(240,000)								(240,102)
In-kind exchange of stock for the exercise of options, net issued	$ (1)	$ 2	1,630		(1,832)		(201)		$ (201)
In-kind exchange of stock for the exercise of options, net issued, shares	(89,000)	185,000
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised	$ 2		490				492		492
Class A common stock issued for stock bonuses and options exercised, shares	235,000
Contributions from noncontrolling shareholders								17	17
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders								(173)	(173)
Equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 229	$ 17	$ 143,815	$ (9,478)	$ (13,524)	$ 11,806	$ 132,865	$ 4,331	$ 137,196
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015	21,654,000	1,680,000

[1] Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation (see Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies - Reclassifications).