Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 82,043	$ 13,616	$ 18,999	$ 13,066
Restricted cash	58	331
Accounts receivable	4,706	4,985
Inventories	2,860	2,955
Prepaid expenses and other assets	9,878	9,410
Total current assets	99,545	31,297
Property and equipment:
Land	52,646	53,909
Buildings and building improvements	269,016	276,221
Leasehold improvements	121,853	123,547
Assets under capital leases	44,970	44,970
Equipment	220,801	212,457
Construction in progress	7,466	2,349
Total property and equipment	716,752	713,453
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(365,258)	(357,518)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	351,494	355,935
Intercompany receivables
Investment in subsidiaries
Goodwill	8,087	8,087
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	1,088	1,169
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	7,960	8,498
Other assets	21,020	17,870
Total assets	489,194	422,856
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	20,075	29,583
Accrued expenses	36,671	31,136
Current maturities of long-term debt, capital leases and long-term financing obligations	2,216	3,959
Total current liabilities	58,962	64,678
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current maturities	209,530	196,880
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	113,237	114,608
Intercompany liabilities
Deferred revenue	33,273	34,009
Other	17,024	18,306
Total long-term liabilities	373,064	363,803
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred Stock
Common Stock	539	401
Treasury stock	(11,740)	(11,683)
Paid-in capital	349,046	290,997
Accumulated deficit	(280,677)	(285,340)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	57,168	(5,625)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	489,194	422,856
Carmike Cinemas, Inc [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	71,106	3,623	12,413	3,418
Restricted cash	58	331
Accounts receivable	4,554	4,654
Inventories	649	722
Prepaid expenses and other assets	9,194	4,953
Total current assets	85,561	14,283
Property and equipment:
Land	12,079	12,716
Buildings and building improvements	45,558	46,676
Leasehold improvements	19,375	19,307
Assets under capital leases	8,675	8,675
Equipment	65,161	58,128
Construction in progress	1,076	159
Total property and equipment	151,924	145,661
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(77,068)	(75,760)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	74,856	69,901
Intercompany receivables	102,346	123,071
Investment in subsidiaries	90,553	82,985
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	7,011	8,498
Other assets	14,926	10,536
Total assets	375,253	309,274
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	18,250	27,598
Accrued expenses	23,370	19,752
Current maturities of long-term debt, capital leases and long-term financing obligations	420	2,391
Total current liabilities	42,040	49,741
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current maturities	209,530	196,880
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	27,970	28,223
Intercompany liabilities
Deferred revenue	33,273	34,009
Other	5,272	6,045
Total long-term liabilities	276,045	265,157
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred Stock
Common Stock	539	401
Treasury stock	(11,740)	(11,683)
Paid-in capital	349,046	290,997
Accumulated deficit	(280,677)	(285,340)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	57,168	(5,625)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	375,253	309,274
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	10,937	9,993	6,586	9,648
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable	152	331
Inventories	2,211	2,233
Prepaid expenses and other assets	4,660	4,457
Total current assets	17,960	17,014
Property and equipment:
Land	40,567	41,193
Buildings and building improvements	223,458	229,545
Leasehold improvements	102,478	104,240
Assets under capital leases	36,295	36,295
Equipment	155,640	154,329
Construction in progress	6,390	2,190
Total property and equipment	564,828	567,792
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(288,190)	(281,758)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	276,638	286,034
Intercompany receivables
Investment in subsidiaries
Goodwill	8,087	8,087
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	1,088	1,169
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	949
Other assets	6,094	7,334
Total assets	310,816	319,638
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,825	1,985
Accrued expenses	17,277	11,384
Current maturities of long-term debt, capital leases and long-term financing obligations	1,796	1,568
Total current liabilities	20,898	14,937
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current maturities
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	85,267	86,385
Intercompany liabilities	102,346	123,071
Deferred revenue
Other	11,752	12,261
Total long-term liabilities	199,365	221,717
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred Stock
Common Stock	1	1
Treasury stock
Paid-in capital	237,800	237,800
Accumulated deficit	(147,248)	(154,816)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	90,553	82,985
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	310,816	319,638
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(3,976)
Total current assets	(3,976)
Property and equipment:
Land
Buildings and building improvements
Leasehold improvements
Assets under capital leases
Equipment
Construction in progress
Total property and equipment
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation
Intercompany receivables	(102,346)	(123,071)
Investment in subsidiaries	(90,553)	(82,985)
Goodwill
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
Other assets
Total assets	(196,875)	(206,056)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses	(3,976)
Current maturities of long-term debt, capital leases and long-term financing obligations
Total current liabilities	(3,976)
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current maturities
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities
Intercompany liabilities	(102,346)	(123,071)
Deferred revenue
Other
Total long-term liabilities	(102,346)	(123,071)
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred Stock
Common Stock	(1)	(1)
Treasury stock
Paid-in capital	(237,800)	(237,800)
Accumulated deficit	147,248	154,816
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)	(90,553)	(82,985)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ (196,875)	$ (206,056)