Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 83,736	$ 68,531	$ 85,779	$ 13,616
Restricted cash	13	293
Accounts receivable	8,528	6,555
Inventories	3,580	4,186
Deferred income tax asset	4,471	2,896
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	11,376	10,936
Total current assets	111,704	93,397
Property and equipment:
Land	51,841	51,876
Buildings and building improvements	334,990	335,738
Leasehold improvements	145,382	141,758
Assets under capital leases	44,970	44,970
Equipment	239,702	235,223
Construction in progress	6,843	5,185
Total property and equipment	823,728	814,750
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(387,652)	(369,823)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	436,076	444,927
Goodwill	44,577	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	1,009	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	6,036	7,682
Deferred income tax asset	100,912	100,012
Other assets	19,627	21,072
Total assets	719,941	712,728
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	37,133	32,141
Accrued expenses	40,957	40,049
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	4,750	4,422
Total current liabilities	82,840	76,612
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,583	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	218,655	220,725
Deferred revenue	32,405	32,984
Other	24,986	23,425
Total long-term liabilities	485,629	486,682
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	542	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	350,982	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(188,138)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	151,472	149,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	719,941	712,728
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	67,979	49,093	72,966	3,623
Restricted cash	13	293
Accounts receivable	8,111	5,058
Inventories	684	926
Deferred income tax asset	3,258	3,203
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,641	3,426
Total current assets	87,686	61,999
Property and equipment:
Land	12,080	12,080
Buildings and building improvements	45,584	45,571
Leasehold improvements	19,249	19,200
Assets under capital leases	8,675	8,675
Equipment	65,378	64,167
Construction in progress	1,991	1,352
Total property and equipment	152,957	151,045
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(80,998)	(77,302)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	71,959	73,743
Intercompany receivables	87,137	92,801
Investments in subsidiaries	157,288	157,522
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	5,111	6,740
Deferred income tax asset	57,784	57,247
Other assets	13,376	14,299
Total assets	480,341	464,351
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	32,701	24,071
Accrued expenses	20,698	14,601
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	491	442
Total current liabilities	53,890	39,114
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,583	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	27,670	27,876
Deferred revenue	32,405	32,984
Other	5,321	5,395
Total long-term liabilities	274,979	275,803
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	542	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	350,982	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(188,138)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	151,472	149,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	480,341	464,351
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	13,112	14,870	12,813	9,993
Accounts receivable	359	874
Inventories	2,424	2,823
Deferred income tax asset	435
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,999	5,173
Total current assets	21,329	23,740
Property and equipment:
Land	39,761	39,796
Buildings and building improvements	222,329	223,090
Leasehold improvements	109,828	107,111
Assets under capital leases	36,295	36,295
Equipment	161,399	158,333
Construction in progress	4,852	3,833
Total property and equipment	574,464	568,458
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(301,065)	(291,132)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	273,399	277,326
Investments in subsidiaries	131	126
Goodwill	8,087	8,087
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	1,009	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	925	942
Deferred income tax asset	42,929	42,765
Other assets	5,854	6,026
Total assets	353,663	360,073
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	6,414	9,704
Accrued expenses	18,509	17,250
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	2,255	2,169
Total current liabilities	27,178	29,123
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	83,758	84,557
Intercompany liabilities	91,780	99,803
Other	13,374	11,487
Total long-term liabilities	188,912	195,847
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Paid-in capital	237,800	237,800
Accumulated deficit	(100,228)	(102,698)
Total stockholders' equity	137,573	135,103
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	353,663	360,073
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	2,645	4,568
Accounts receivable	3,121	5,250
Inventories	472	437
Deferred income tax asset	778
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3,457	2,337
Total current assets	10,473	12,592
Property and equipment:
Buildings and building improvements	67,077	67,077
Leasehold improvements	16,305	15,447
Equipment	12,925	12,723
Total property and equipment	96,307	95,247
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(5,589)	(1,389)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	90,718	93,858
Intercompany receivables	4,643	7,002
Goodwill	36,490	36,490
Deferred income tax asset	199
Other assets	397	747
Total assets	142,920	150,689
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,081	2,993
Accrued expenses	6,471	8,505
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	2,004	1,811
Total current liabilities	9,556	13,309
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	107,227	108,292
Other	6,291	6,543
Total long-term liabilities	113,518	114,835
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Paid-in capital	22,213	22,037
Accumulated deficit	(2,367)	508
Total stockholders' equity	19,846	22,545
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	142,920	150,689
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable	(3,063)	(4,627)
Deferred income tax asset		(307)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,721)
Total current assets	(7,784)	(4,934)
Property and equipment:
Intercompany receivables	(91,780)	(99,803)
Investments in subsidiaries	(157,419)	(157,648)
Total assets	(256,983)	(262,385)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(3,063)	(4,627)
Accrued expenses	(4,721)	(307)
Total current liabilities	(7,784)	(4,934)
Long-term liabilities:
Intercompany liabilities	(91,780)	(99,803)
Total long-term liabilities	(91,780)	(99,803)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(1)	(1)
Paid-in capital	(260,013)	(259,837)
Accumulated deficit	102,595	102,190
Total stockholders' equity	(157,419)	(157,648)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(256,983)	(262,385)
Guarantor-Non Guarantor Financials
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	83,736	68,531
Restricted cash	13	293
Accounts receivable	8,528	6,555
Inventories	3,580	4,186
Deferred income tax asset	4,471	2,896
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	11,376	10,936
Total current assets	111,704	93,397
Property and equipment:
Land	51,841	51,876
Buildings and building improvements	334,990	335,738
Leasehold improvements	145,382	141,758
Assets under capital leases	44,970	44,970
Equipment	239,702	235,223
Construction in progress	6,843	5,185
Total property and equipment	823,728	814,750
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(387,652)	(369,823)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	436,076	444,927
Goodwill	44,577	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	1,009	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	6,036	7,682
Deferred income tax asset	100,912	100,012
Other assets	19,627	21,072
Total assets	719,941	712,728
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	37,133	32,141
Accrued expenses	40,957	40,049
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	4,750	4,422
Total current liabilities	82,840	76,612
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,583	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	218,655	220,725
Deferred revenue	32,405	32,984
Other	24,986	23,425
Total long-term liabilities	485,629	486,682
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	542	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	350,982	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(188,138)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	151,472	149,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	719,941	712,728
Guarantor-Non Guarantor Financials | Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	67,979	49,093
Restricted cash	13	293
Accounts receivable	8,111	5,058
Inventories	684	926
Deferred income tax asset	3,258	3,203
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,641	3,426
Total current assets	87,686	61,999
Property and equipment:
Land	12,080	12,080
Buildings and building improvements	45,584	45,571
Leasehold improvements	19,249	19,200
Assets under capital leases	8,675	8,675
Equipment	65,378	64,167
Construction in progress	1,991	1,352
Total property and equipment	152,957	151,045
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(80,998)	(77,302)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	71,959	73,743
Intercompany receivables	87,137	92,801
Investments in subsidiaries	157,288	157,522
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	5,111	6,740
Deferred income tax asset	57,784	57,247
Other assets	13,376	14,299
Total assets	480,341	464,351
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	32,701	24,071
Accrued expenses	20,698	14,601
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	491	442
Total current liabilities	53,890	39,114
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,583	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	27,670	27,876
Deferred revenue	32,405	32,984
Other	5,321	5,395
Total long-term liabilities	274,979	275,803
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	542	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	350,982	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(188,138)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	151,472	149,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	480,341	464,351
Guarantor-Non Guarantor Financials | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	15,757	19,438
Accounts receivable	3,480	6,124
Inventories	2,896	3,260
Deferred income tax asset	1,213
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,409	7,510
Total current assets	30,755	36,332
Property and equipment:
Land	39,761	39,796
Buildings and building improvements	289,406	290,167
Leasehold improvements	126,133	122,558
Assets under capital leases	36,295	36,295
Equipment	174,324	171,056
Construction in progress	4,852	3,833
Total property and equipment	670,771	663,705
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(306,654)	(292,521)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	364,117	371,184
Investments in subsidiaries		126
Goodwill	44,577	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	1,009	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	925	942
Deferred income tax asset	43,128	42,765
Other assets	6,251	6,773
Total assets	490,762	503,760
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	7,495	12,697
Accrued expenses	23,933	25,755
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	4,259	3,980
Total current liabilities	35,687	42,432
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	190,985	192,849
Intercompany liabilities	87,137	92,801
Other	19,665	18,030
Total long-term liabilities	297,787	303,680
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Paid-in capital	260,013	259,837
Accumulated deficit	(102,726)	(102,190)
Total stockholders' equity	157,288	157,648
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	490,762	503,760
Guarantor-Non Guarantor Financials | Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(3,063)	(4,627)
Deferred income tax asset		(307)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(3,674)
Total current assets	(6,737)	(4,934)
Property and equipment:
Intercompany receivables	(87,137)	(92,801)
Investments in subsidiaries	(157,288)	(157,648)
Total assets	(251,162)	(255,383)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(3,063)	(4,627)
Accrued expenses	(3,674)	(307)
Total current liabilities	(6,737)	(4,934)
Long-term liabilities:
Intercompany liabilities	(87,137)	(92,801)
Total long-term liabilities	(87,137)	(92,801)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(1)	(1)
Paid-in capital	(260,013)	(259,837)
Accumulated deficit	102,726	102,190
Total stockholders' equity	(157,288)	(157,648)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (251,162)	$ (255,383)