Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 143,867	$ 68,531	$ 13,616	$ 13,066
Restricted cash	352	293
Accounts receivable	8,513	6,555
Inventories	3,691	4,186
Deferred income tax asset	3,838	2,896
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	14,645	10,936
Total current assets	174,906	93,397
Property and equipment:
Land	53,982	51,876
Buildings and building improvements	340,959	335,738
Leasehold improvements	164,075	141,758
Assets under capital leases	49,670	44,970
Equipment	253,890	235,223
Construction in progress	7,201	5,185
Total property and equipment	869,777	814,750
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(402,022)	(369,823)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	467,755	444,927
Goodwill	74,377	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	957	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	7,073	7,682
Deferred income tax asset	100,043	100,012
Assets held for sale
Other assets	19,510	21,072
Total assets	844,621	712,728
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	43,321	32,141
Accrued expenses	42,579	40,049
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	6,870	4,422
Total current liabilities	92,770	76,612
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,619	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	238,763	220,725
Deferred revenue	31,827	32,984
Other	25,831	23,425
Total long-term liabilities	506,040	486,682
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	698	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	440,306	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(183,279)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	245,811	149,434	(5,625)	99
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	844,621	712,728
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(7,907)	(4,627)
Deferred income tax asset	(324)	(307)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(3,740)
Total current assets	(11,971)	(4,934)
Property and equipment:
Intercompany receivables	(112,209)	(75,381)
Investments in subsidiaries	(175,042)	(166,400)
Assets held for sale
Total assets	(299,222)	(246,715)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(7,907)	(4,627)
Accrued expenses	(4,064)	(307)
Total current liabilities	(11,971)	(4,934)
Long-term liabilities:
Intercompany liabilities	(112,209)	(75,381)
Total long-term liabilities	(112,209)	(75,381)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(1)	(1)
Paid-in capital	(260,013)	(259,837)
Accumulated deficit	84,972	93,438
Total stockholders' equity	(175,042)	(166,400)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(299,222)	(246,715)
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	99,153	49,093	3,623	3,418
Restricted cash	352	293
Accounts receivable	7,282	5,058
Inventories	766	926
Deferred income tax asset	4,162	3,203
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,071	3,426
Total current assets	120,786	61,999
Property and equipment:
Land	12,080	12,080
Buildings and building improvements	48,104	45,571
Leasehold improvements	22,040	19,200
Assets under capital leases	8,675	8,675
Equipment	70,045	64,167
Construction in progress	3,613	1,352
Total property and equipment	164,557	151,045
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(84,861)	(77,302)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	79,696	73,743
Intercompany receivables	112,209	75,381
Investments in subsidiaries	175,042	166,400
Goodwill	6,912
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	6,188	6,740
Deferred income tax asset	56,858	57,247
Assets held for sale
Other assets	12,922	14,299
Total assets	570,613	455,809
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	34,766	24,071
Accrued expenses	9,731	6,059
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	836	442
Total current liabilities	45,333	30,572
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,619	209,548
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	32,497	27,876
Deferred revenue	31,827	32,984
Other	5,526	5,395
Total long-term liabilities	279,469	275,803
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	698	540
Treasury stock	(11,914)	(11,740)
Paid-in capital	440,306	349,666
Accumulated deficit	(183,279)	(189,032)
Total stockholders' equity	245,811	149,434
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	570,613	455,809
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	44,714	19,438	9,993	9,648
Accounts receivable	9,138	6,124
Inventories	2,925	3,260
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	9,314	7,510
Total current assets	66,091	36,332
Property and equipment:
Land	41,902	39,796
Buildings and building improvements	292,855	290,167
Leasehold improvements	142,035	122,558
Assets under capital leases	40,995	36,295
Equipment	183,845	171,056
Construction in progress	3,588	3,833
Total property and equipment	705,220	663,705
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(317,161)	(292,521)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	388,059	371,184
Goodwill	67,465	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	957	1,061
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	885	942
Deferred income tax asset	43,185	42,765
Assets held for sale
Other assets	6,588	6,773
Total assets	573,230	503,634
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	16,462	12,697
Accrued expenses	36,912	34,297
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	6,034	3,980
Total current liabilities	59,408	50,974
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	206,266	192,849
Intercompany liabilities	112,209	75,381
Other	20,305	18,030
Total long-term liabilities	338,780	286,260
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Paid-in capital	260,013	259,837
Accumulated deficit	(84,972)	(93,438)
Total stockholders' equity	175,042	166,400
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 573,230	$ 503,634