Consolidated Statements Of Operations $ in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 276,768	$ 308,931	$ 279,556
Costs and expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(22,747)	(22,275)	(16,942)
General and administrative	(25,395)	(27,337)	(25,347)
Total costs and expenses	(267,645)	(285,307)	(259,173)
Operating income (loss)	9,123	23,624	20,383
Interest expense, net	(7,904)	(6,837)	(6,194)
Casualty gain (loss)			9,217
Gain (loss) on sale of assets	(2)	(41)	9,360
Other income (expense)	325	(256)	588
Income (loss) before income tax expense and equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	1,542	16,490	33,354
Equity earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	792	974	815
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,334	17,464	34,169
Income tax benefit (expense)	28,837	3,298	3,293
Net income (loss)	(26,503)	14,166	30,876
Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(74)	132	11
Net income (loss) attributable to Reading International, Inc. common shareholders	$ (26,429)	$ 14,034	$ 30,865
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Reading International, Inc. common shareholders | $ / shares	$ (1.17)	$ 0.61	$ 1.34
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Reading International, Inc. common shareholders | $ / shares	$ (1.17)	$ 0.60	$ 1.33
Weighted average number of shares outstanding-basic | shares	22,631,754	22,991,277	23,041,190
Weighted average number of shares outstanding-diluted | shares	22,784,122	23,208,991	23,247,969
Cinema [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 262,189	$ 293,723	$ 263,141
Costs and expenses
Total costs and expenses	(210,050)	(225,791)	(207,447)
Real Estate [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	14,579	15,208	16,415
Costs and expenses
Total costs and expenses	$ (9,453)	$ (9,904)	$ (9,437)