Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 39,003	$ 70,686	$ 52,309
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(59,679)	(37,812)	(35,059)
Theatre acquisitions	(16,146)	(42,928)	(22,237)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(109)	(20)	(55)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	7,346	1,804	4,741
Other investing activities	(43)	(59)	38
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,631)	(79,015)	(52,572)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Short-term borrowings			5,000
Repayments of short term borrowings			(5,000)
Issuance of long-term debt			209,500
Repayments of long-term debt	(9,099)		(200,229)
Debt issuance costs			(8,621)
Repayments of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	(7,096)	(4,432)	(2,057)
Issuance of common stock	55	88,043	56,566
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	18	125	305
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	1,071	103	76
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,651)	(174)	(57)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(16,702)	83,665	55,178
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(46,330)	75,336	54,915
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	143,867	68,531	13,616
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	97,537	143,867	68,531
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Intercompany receivable	29,899	36,828	(47,690)
Net cash used in investing activities	29,899	36,828	(47,690)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany payable	(29,899)	(36,828)	47,690
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(29,899)	(36,828)	47,690
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(2,272)	15,762	(46,871)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(4,933)	(7,718)	(14,340)
Theatre acquisitions	(2,338)	(8,760)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	7,305	6	2,066
Other investing activities	(43)	(59)	38
Intercompany receivable	(29,899)	(36,828)	47,690
Net cash used in investing activities	(29,908)	(53,359)	35,454
Cash flows from financing activities:
Short-term borrowings			5,000
Repayments of short term borrowings			(5,000)
Issuance of long-term debt			209,500
Repayments of long-term debt			(200,229)
Debt issuance costs			(8,621)
Repayments of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	(836)	(440)	(348)
Issuance of common stock	55	88,043	56,566
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	18	125
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	1,071	103	76
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,651)	(174)	(57)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,343)	87,657	56,887
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(33,523)	50,060	45,470
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	99,153	49,093	3,623
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	65,630	99,153	49,093
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	41,275	54,924	99,180
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(54,746)	(30,094)	(20,719)
Theatre acquisitions	(13,808)	(34,168)	(22,237)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(109)	(20)	(55)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	41	1,798	2,675
Net cash used in investing activities	(68,622)	(62,484)	(40,336)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(9,099)
Repayments of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	(6,260)	(3,992)	(1,709)
Intercompany payable	29,899	36,828	(47,690)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	14,540	32,836	(49,399)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(12,807)	25,276	9,445
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	44,714	19,438	9,993
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 31,907	$ 44,714	$ 19,438