Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 97,537	$ 143,867	$ 68,531	$ 13,616
Restricted cash	395	352
Accounts receivable	18,635	8,513
Inventories	3,733	3,691
Deferred income tax asset	4,691	3,838
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,131	14,645
Total current assets	143,122	174,906
Property and equipment:
Land	49,887	53,982
Buildings and building improvements	343,718	340,959
Leasehold improvements	187,433	164,075
Assets under capital leases	50,398	49,670
Equipment	281,736	253,890
Construction in progress	26,709	7,201
Total property and equipment	939,881	869,777
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(438,378)	(402,022)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	501,503	467,755
Goodwill	125,515	74,377	44,577
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	3,007	957
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	5,079	7,073
Deferred income tax asset	101,847	100,043
Other	18,029	19,510
Total assets	898,102	844,621
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	42,181	43,321
Accrued expenses	32,563	27,306
Deferred revenue	23,513	15,273
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	9,667	6,870
Total current liabilities	107,924	92,770
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,690	209,619
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	230,203	238,763
Deferred revenue	30,669	31,827
Other	31,071	25,831
Total long-term liabilities	501,633	506,040
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	744	698
Treasury stock	(13,565)	(11,914)
Paid-in capital	493,587	440,306
Accumulated deficit	(192,221)	(183,279)
Total stockholders' equity	288,545	245,811	149,434	(5,625)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	898,102	844,621
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	65,630	99,153	49,093	3,623
Restricted cash	395	352
Accounts receivable	17,148	7,282
Inventories	670	766
Deferred income tax asset	2,470	4,162
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	22,281	9,071
Total current assets	108,594	120,786
Property and equipment:
Land	7,858	12,080
Buildings and building improvements	46,545	48,104
Leasehold improvements	23,253	22,040
Assets under capital leases	8,675	8,675
Equipment	69,430	70,045
Construction in progress	10,284	3,613
Total property and equipment	166,045	164,557
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(88,247)	(84,861)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	77,798	79,696
Intercompany receivables	142,108	112,209
Investments in subsidiaries	178,207	175,042
Goodwill	46,946	6,912
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	69
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	4,195	6,188
Deferred income tax asset	51,994	56,858
Other	11,626	12,922
Total assets	621,537	570,613
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	32,449	34,766
Accrued expenses	16,005	693
Deferred revenue	8,238	9,038
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	1,179	836
Total current liabilities	57,871	45,333
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,690	209,619
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	31,444	32,497
Deferred revenue	30,669	31,827
Other	3,318	5,526
Total long-term liabilities	275,121	279,469
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	744	698
Treasury stock	(13,565)	(11,914)
Paid-in capital	493,587	440,306
Accumulated deficit	(192,221)	(183,279)
Total stockholders' equity	288,545	245,811
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	621,537	570,613
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	31,907	44,714	19,438	9,993
Accounts receivable	14,678	9,138
Inventories	3,063	2,925
Deferred income tax asset	2,221
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,771	9,314
Total current assets	62,640	66,091
Property and equipment:
Land	42,029	41,902
Buildings and building improvements	297,173	292,855
Leasehold improvements	164,180	142,035
Assets under capital leases	41,723	40,995
Equipment	212,306	183,845
Construction in progress	16,425	3,588
Total property and equipment	773,836	705,220
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(350,131)	(317,161)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	423,705	388,059
Goodwill	78,569	67,465
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	2,938	957
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	884	885
Deferred income tax asset	49,853	43,185
Other	6,403	6,588
Total assets	624,992	573,230
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	22,923	16,462
Accrued expenses	31,479	30,677
Deferred revenue	15,275	6,235
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	8,488	6,034
Total current liabilities	78,165	59,408
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	198,759	206,266
Intercompany liabilities	142,108	112,209
Other	27,753	20,305
Total long-term liabilities	368,620	338,780
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Paid-in capital	269,635	260,013
Accumulated deficit	(91,429)	(84,972)
Total stockholders' equity	178,207	175,042
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	624,992	573,230
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(13,191)	(7,907)
Deferred income tax asset		(324)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(14,921)	(3,740)
Total current assets	(28,112)	(11,971)
Property and equipment:
Intercompany receivables	(142,108)	(112,209)
Investments in subsidiaries	(178,207)	(175,042)
Total assets	(348,427)	(299,222)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(13,191)	(7,907)
Accrued expenses	(14,921)	(4,064)
Total current liabilities	(28,112)	(11,971)
Long-term liabilities:
Intercompany liabilities	(142,108)	(112,209)
Total long-term liabilities	(142,108)	(112,209)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(1)	(1)
Paid-in capital	(269,635)	(260,013)
Accumulated deficit	91,429	84,972
Total stockholders' equity	(178,207)	(175,042)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (348,427)	$ (299,222)