Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 150,602	$ 68,531	$ 82,043	$ 13,616
Restricted cash	62	293
Accounts receivable	5,854	6,555
Inventories	3,780	4,186
Deferred income tax asset	4,914	2,896
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	12,052	10,936
Total current assets	177,264	93,397
Property and equipment:
Land	54,705	51,876
Buildings and building improvements	333,415	335,738
Leasehold improvements	153,428	141,758
Assets under capital leases	44,970	44,970
Equipment	243,300	235,223
Construction in progress	8,366	5,185
Total property and equipment	838,184	814,750
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(393,633)	(369,823)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	444,551	444,927
Goodwill	49,857	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	983	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	6,481	7,682
Deferred income tax asset	103,361	100,012
Other assets	19,386	21,072
Total assets	801,883	712,728
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	25,062	32,141
Accrued expenses	41,462	40,049
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	5,246	4,422
Total current liabilities	71,770	76,612
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current maturities	209,601	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	222,633	220,725
Deferred revenue	32,116	32,984
Other	24,632	23,425
Total long-term liabilities	488,982	486,682
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	698	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	439,477	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(187,130)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	241,131	149,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	801,883	712,728
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	139,057	49,093	71,106	3,623
Restricted cash	62	293
Accounts receivable	5,478	5,058
Inventories	785	926
Deferred income tax asset	3,313	3,203
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,511	3,426
Total current assets	158,206	61,999
Property and equipment:
Land	12,080	12,080
Buildings and building improvements	48,026	45,571
Leasehold improvements	20,349	19,200
Assets under capital leases	8,675	8,675
Equipment	66,134	64,167
Construction in progress	3,936	1,352
Total property and equipment	159,200	151,045
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(82,894)	(77,302)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	76,306	73,743
Intercompany receivables	92,355	92,801
Investments in subsidiaries	157,148	157,522
Goodwill	3,513
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	5,626	6,740
Deferred income tax asset	60,820	57,247
Other assets	13,232	14,299
Total assets	567,206	464,351
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	21,331	24,071
Accrued expenses	24,259	14,601
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	792	442
Total current liabilities	46,382	39,114
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current maturities	209,601	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	32,694	27,876
Deferred revenue	32,116	32,984
Other	5,282	5,395
Total long-term liabilities	279,693	275,803
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	698	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	439,477	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(187,130)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	241,131	149,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	567,206	464,351
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	11,545	19,438	10,937	9,993
Accounts receivable	3,136	6,124
Inventories	2,995	3,260
Deferred income tax asset	1,601
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	7,736	7,510
Total current assets	27,013	36,332
Property and equipment:
Land	42,625	39,796
Buildings and building improvements	285,789	290,167
Leasehold improvements	133,279	122,558
Assets under capital leases	36,295	36,295
Equipment	176,566	171,056
Construction in progress	4,430	3,833
Total property and equipment	678,984	663,705
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(310,739)	(292,521)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	368,245	371,184
Investments in subsidiaries		126
Goodwill	46,344	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	983	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	855	942
Deferred income tax asset	42,541	42,765
Other assets	6,154	6,773
Total assets	492,135	503,760
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	6,491	12,697
Accrued expenses	22,398	25,755
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	4,454	3,980
Total current liabilities	33,343	42,432
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	189,939	192,849
Intercompany liabilities	92,355	92,801
Other	19,350	18,030
Total long-term liabilities	301,644	303,680
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Paid-in capital	260,013	259,837
Accumulated deficit	(102,866)	(102,190)
Total stockholders' equity	157,148	157,648
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	492,135	503,760
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable	(2,760)	(4,627)
Deferred income tax asset		(307)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(5,195)
Total current assets	(7,955)	(4,934)
Property and equipment:
Intercompany receivables	(92,355)	(92,801)
Investments in subsidiaries	(157,148)	(157,648)
Total assets	(257,458)	(255,383)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(2,760)	(4,627)
Accrued expenses	(5,195)	(307)
Total current liabilities	(7,955)	(4,934)
Long-term liabilities:
Intercompany liabilities	(92,355)	(92,801)
Total long-term liabilities	(92,355)	(92,801)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(1)	(1)
Paid-in capital	(260,013)	(259,837)
Accumulated deficit	102,866	102,190
Total stockholders' equity	(157,148)	(157,648)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (257,458)	$ (255,383)