Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues:
Admissions									$ 427,212	$ 398,610	$ 339,593
Concessions and other									262,717	236,225	194,320
Total operating revenues	185,387	162,631	182,987	158,924	171,848	164,179	169,525	129,283	689,929	634,835	533,913
Operating costs and expenses:
Film exhibition costs									235,457	220,260	184,108
Concession costs									30,310	29,052	23,020
Salaries and benefits									91,954	82,985	70,039
Theatre occupancy charges									86,876	66,651	55,982
Other theatre operating costs									121,025	100,800	82,936
General and administrative expenses									32,268	25,838	24,547
Lease termination charges										3,063
Severance agreement charges										253	473
Depreciation and amortization									49,234	42,378	33,273
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment									(1,451)	275	968
Impairment of long-lived assets	1,655	1,198				2,974			3,212	3,726	4,227
Total operating costs and expenses									648,885	575,281	479,573
Operating income	11,803	2,422	18,740	8,079	19,225	13,503	23,409	3,417	41,044	59,554	54,340
Interest expense									51,707	49,546	36,004
Loss on extinguishment of debt											4,961
(Loss) income before income tax and income from unconsolidated affiliates									(10,663)	10,008	13,375
Income tax (benefit) expense									(1,407)	6,104	(80,904)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates									366	1,643	1,204
(Loss) income from continuing operations									(8,890)	5,547	95,483
(Loss) income from discontinued operations									(52)	206	825
Net (loss) income	(2,243)	(6,757)	3,222	(3,164)	3,850	1,009	6,677	(5,783)	(8,942)	5,753	96,308
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Revenues:
Admissions									62,342	55,410	56,132
Concessions and other									82,169	67,472	58,506
Total operating revenues									144,511	122,882	114,638
Operating costs and expenses:
Film exhibition costs									34,492	30,740	29,959
Concession costs									4,527	4,396	3,970
Salaries and benefits									14,791	12,937	12,544
Theatre occupancy charges									12,622	7,666	8,709
Other theatre operating costs									23,307	20,132	19,360
General and administrative expenses									28,480	23,521	22,259
Severance agreement charges										253	473
Depreciation and amortization									8,775	7,843	7,201
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment									(1,914)	2	778
Impairment of long-lived assets									21	43	606
Total operating costs and expenses									125,101	107,533	105,859
Operating income									19,410	15,349	8,779
Interest expense									21,997	21,630	20,885
Loss on extinguishment of debt											4,961
Equity in income of subsidiaries									6,230	(8,466)	(61,378)
(Loss) income before income tax and income from unconsolidated affiliates									(8,817)	2,185	44,311
Income tax (benefit) expense									102	(2,442)	(51,406)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates									(23)	1,252	860
(Loss) income from continuing operations									(8,942)	5,879	96,577
(Loss) income from discontinued operations										(126)	(269)
Net (loss) income									(8,942)	5,753	96,308
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Revenues:
Admissions									364,870	343,200	283,461
Concessions and other									222,658	200,504	161,205
Total operating revenues									587,528	543,704	444,666
Operating costs and expenses:
Film exhibition costs									200,965	189,520	154,149
Concession costs									25,783	24,656	19,050
Salaries and benefits									77,163	70,048	57,495
Theatre occupancy charges									74,254	58,985	47,273
Other theatre operating costs									139,828	112,419	88,967
General and administrative expenses									3,788	2,317	2,288
Lease termination charges										3,063
Depreciation and amortization									40,459	34,535	26,072
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment									463	273	190
Impairment of long-lived assets									3,191	3,683	3,621
Total operating costs and expenses									565,894	499,499	399,105
Operating income									21,634	44,205	45,561
Interest expense									29,710	27,916	15,119
(Loss) income before income tax and income from unconsolidated affiliates									(8,076)	16,289	30,442
Income tax (benefit) expense									(1,509)	8,546	(29,498)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates									389	391	344
(Loss) income from continuing operations									(6,178)	8,134	60,284
(Loss) income from discontinued operations									(52)	332	1,094
Net (loss) income									(6,230)	8,466	61,378
Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Concessions and other									(42,110)	(31,751)	(25,391)
Total operating revenues									(42,110)	(31,751)	(25,391)
Operating costs and expenses:
Other theatre operating costs									(42,110)	(31,751)	(25,391)
Total operating costs and expenses									(42,110)	(31,751)	(25,391)
Equity in income of subsidiaries									(6,230)	8,466	61,378
(Loss) income before income tax and income from unconsolidated affiliates									6,230	(8,466)	(61,378)
(Loss) income from continuing operations									6,230	(8,466)	(61,378)
Net (loss) income									$ 6,230	$ (8,466)	$ (61,378)