Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 133,910	$ 143,867	$ 63,642	$ 68,531
Restricted cash	297	352
Accounts receivable	10,073	8,513
Inventories	3,291	3,691
Deferred income tax asset	3,917	3,838
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	17,206	14,645
Total current assets	168,694	174,906
Property and equipment:
Land	53,766	53,982
Buildings and building improvements	342,297	340,959
Leasehold improvements	165,555	164,075
Assets under capital leases	49,670	49,670
Equipment	256,608	253,890
Construction in progress	12,651	7,201
Total property and equipment	880,547	869,777
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(413,556)	(402,022)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	466,991	467,755
Goodwill	75,127	74,377
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	931	957
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	6,372	7,073
Deferred income tax asset	100,330	100,043
Other	19,287	19,510
Total assets	837,732	844,621
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	36,653	43,321
Accrued expenses	48,093	42,579
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	7,231	6,870
Total current liabilities	91,977	92,770
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,637	209,619
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	236,804	238,763
Deferred revenue	31,537	31,827
Other	25,816	25,831
Total long-term liabilities	503,794	506,040
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	701	698
Treasury stock	(13,397)	(11,914)
Paid-in capital	441,100	440,306
Accumulated deficit	(186,443)	(183,279)
Total stockholders' equity	241,961	245,811
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	837,732	844,621
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	104,949	99,153
Restricted cash	297	352
Accounts receivable	9,343	7,282
Inventories	742	766
Deferred income tax asset	4,427	4,162
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	25,478	9,071
Total current assets	145,236	120,786
Property and equipment:
Land	11,864	12,080
Buildings and building improvements	48,153	48,104
Leasehold improvements	22,335	22,040
Assets under capital leases	8,675	8,675
Equipment	70,811	70,045
Construction in progress	7,952	3,613
Total property and equipment	169,790	164,557
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(87,012)	(84,861)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	82,778	79,696
Intercompany receivables	96,202	112,209
Investments in subsidiaries	174,770	175,042
Goodwill	7,662	6,912
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	5,518	6,188
Deferred income tax asset	57,047	56,858
Other	12,409	12,922
Total assets	581,622	570,613
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	32,023	34,766
Accrued expenses	27,662	9,731
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	896	836
Total current liabilities	60,581	45,333
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,637	209,619
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	32,274	32,497
Deferred revenue	31,537	31,827
Other	5,632	5,526
Total long-term liabilities	279,080	279,469
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	701	698
Treasury stock	(13,397)	(11,914)
Paid-in capital	441,100	440,306
Accumulated deficit	(186,443)	(183,279)
Total stockholders' equity	241,961	245,811
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	581,622	570,613
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	28,961	44,714
Accounts receivable	6,401	9,138
Inventories	2,549	2,925
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	8,827	9,314
Total current assets	46,738	66,091
Property and equipment:
Land	41,902	41,902
Buildings and building improvements	294,144	292,855
Leasehold improvements	143,220	142,035
Assets under capital leases	40,995	40,995
Equipment	185,797	183,845
Construction in progress	4,699	3,588
Total property and equipment	710,757	705,220
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(326,544)	(317,161)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	384,213	388,059
Goodwill	67,465	67,465
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	931	957
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	854	885
Deferred income tax asset	43,283	43,185
Other	6,878	6,588
Total assets	550,362	573,230
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	10,301	16,462
Accrued expenses	38,040	36,912
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	6,335	6,034
Total current liabilities	54,676	59,408
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	204,530	206,266
Intercompany liabilities	96,202	112,209
Other	20,184	20,305
Total long-term liabilities	320,916	338,780
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Paid-in capital	260,013	260,013
Accumulated deficit	(85,244)	(84,972)
Total stockholders' equity	174,770	175,042
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	550,362	573,230
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(5,671)	(7,907)
Deferred income tax asset	(510)	(324)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(17,099)	(3,740)
Total current assets	(23,280)	(11,971)
Property and equipment:
Intercompany receivables	(96,202)	(112,209)
Investments in subsidiaries	(174,770)	(175,042)
Total assets	(294,252)	(299,222)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(5,671)	(7,907)
Accrued expenses	(17,609)	(4,064)
Total current liabilities	(23,280)	(11,971)
Long-term liabilities:
Intercompany liabilities	(96,202)	(112,209)
Total long-term liabilities	(96,202)	(112,209)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(1)	(1)
Paid-in capital	(260,013)	(260,013)
Accumulated deficit	85,244	84,972
Total stockholders' equity	(174,770)	(175,042)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (294,252)	$ (299,222)