Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Accounting Changes To Consolidated Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019		Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018		Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Balance					$ 179,979					$ 181,382	$ 179,979	$ 181,382	$ 146,890
Net income (loss)	$ (27,487)	[1]	$ 851	$ 2,331	(2,124)	$ 4,880	[1]	$ 1,215	$ 4,926	3,013	(26,429)	14,034	30,865
Balance	139,616					179,979					139,616	179,979	181,382
Deferred tax asset														$ 3,444	$ 26,526	$ 26,444	$ 24,585
Other assets														6,668		6,129
Total Assets														674,989		439,237
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities														29,436		26,931
Total current liabilities														111,137		86,305
Total liabilities														535,373		259,258
Retained earnings														20,647	$ 47,076	47,048	$ 33,250
Total stockholders’ equity	139,616				179,979	179,979				181,382	139,616	179,979	181,382	139,616		179,979		$ 181,382
Reading International Inc. Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Balance					175,642					177,051	175,642	177,051	142,472
Balance	135,349					175,642					135,349	175,642	177,051
Total stockholders’ equity	135,349				175,642	175,642				177,051	135,349	175,642	177,051	135,349		175,642		177,051
As Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ (27,487)	[1]	902	2,394	(2,081)	4,960	[1]	1,297	5,027	3,082
Deferred tax asset														3,444		26,444		24,746
Retained earnings														$ 139,616		47,048		33,056
Adjustments [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Net income (loss)			$ (51)	$ (63)	(43)	(80)	[1]	$ (82)	$ (101)	(69)
Tax Year 2019 [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Balance					179,979					181,382	179,979	181,382	146,890
Net income (loss)												14,034	30,865
Balance						179,979						179,979	181,382
Deferred tax asset																26,444		24,833
Total Assets																439,237		423,490
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities																26,931		34,682
Total current liabilities																86,305		80,769
Total liabilities																259,258		242,108
Retained earnings																47,048		32,820
Total stockholders’ equity					179,979	179,979				181,382	179,979	179,979	181,382			179,979		181,382
Tax Year 2019 [Member] | As Reported [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Balance					180,547					181,618	180,547	181,618	146,890
Net income (loss)												14,366	31,101
Balance						180,547						180,547	181,618
Deferred tax asset																26,235		24,746
Total Assets																439,028		423,403
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities																26,154		34,359
Total current liabilities																85,528		80,446
Total liabilities																258,481		241,785
Retained earnings																47,616		33,056
Total stockholders’ equity					180,547	180,547				181,618	180,547	180,547	181,618			180,547		181,618
Tax Year 2019 [Member] | Adjustments [Member]
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Balance					(568)					(236)	(568)	(236)
Net income (loss)												(332)	(236)
Balance						(568)						(568)	(236)
Deferred tax asset																209		87
Total Assets																209		87
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities																777		323
Total current liabilities																777		323
Total liabilities																777		323
Retained earnings																(568)		(236)
Total stockholders’ equity					$ (568)	$ (568)				$ (236)	$ (568)	$ (568)	$ (236)			$ (568)		$ (236)

[1] Since previously published financial statements have been corrected, there is no impact on the fourth quarter results for 2019 and so no data is displayed here.