Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 92,865	$ 97,537	$ 133,910	$ 143,867
Restricted cash	412	395
Accounts receivable	16,005	18,635
Inventories	3,601	3,733
Deferred income tax asset	4,691	4,691
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	19,405	18,131
Total current assets	136,979	143,122
Property and equipment:
Land	48,693	49,887
Buildings and building improvements	349,289	343,718
Leasehold improvements	189,745	187,433
Assets under capital leases	50,398	50,398
Equipment	286,682	281,736
Construction in progress	18,765	26,709
Total property and equipment	943,572	939,881
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(446,211)	(438,378)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	497,361	501,503
Goodwill	125,646	125,515
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	2,885	3,007
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	5,866	5,079
Deferred income tax asset	103,252	101,847
Assets held for sale	973
Other	17,706	18,029
Total assets	890,668	898,102
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	38,842	42,181
Accrued expenses	32,311	32,563
Deferred revenue	22,437	23,513
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	9,989	9,667
Total current liabilities	103,579	107,924
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,708	209,690
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	227,995	230,203
Deferred revenue	30,380	30,669
Other	30,827	31,071
Total long-term liabilities	498,910	501,633
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	751	744
Treasury stock	(16,849)	(13,565)
Paid-in capital	496,107	493,587
Accumulated deficit	(191,830)	(192,221)
Total stockholders' equity	288,179	288,545
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	890,668	898,102
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	65,835	66,010	105,710	99,947
Restricted cash	412	395
Accounts receivable	15,347	17,186
Inventories	740	779
Deferred income tax asset	2,470	2,479
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,085	22,539
Total current assets	108,889	109,388
Property and equipment:
Land	8,029	9,224
Buildings and building improvements	52,366	54,042
Leasehold improvements	27,976	28,432
Assets under capital leases	12,689	12,689
Equipment	78,780	81,014
Construction in progress	7,897	10,565
Total property and equipment	187,737	195,966
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(104,919)	(106,481)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	82,818	89,485
Intercompany receivables	129,344	129,877
Investments in subsidiaries	174,468	172,742
Goodwill	51,507	51,507
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	63	69
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	5,029	4,195
Deferred income tax asset	53,037	54,203
Assets held for sale	973
Other	8,598	11,622
Total assets	614,726	623,088
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	22,032	32,722
Accrued expenses	17,948	17,550
Deferred revenue	11,315	8,238
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	1,504	1,394
Total current liabilities	52,799	59,904
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt	209,708	209,690
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	25,246	25,647
Deferred revenue	30,380	30,669
Other	8,414	8,633
Total long-term liabilities	273,748	274,639
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	751	744
Treasury stock	(16,849)	(13,565)
Paid-in capital	496,107	493,587
Accumulated deficit	(191,830)	(192,221)
Total stockholders' equity	288,179	288,545
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	614,726	623,088
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	27,030	31,527	28,200	43,920
Accounts receivable	10,651	14,640
Inventories	2,861	2,954
Deferred income tax asset	2,221	2,212
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,868	10,513
Total current assets	53,631	61,846
Property and equipment:
Land	40,664	40,663
Buildings and building improvements	296,923	289,676
Leasehold improvements	161,769	159,001
Assets under capital leases	37,709	37,709
Equipment	207,902	200,722
Construction in progress	10,868	16,144
Total property and equipment	755,835	743,915
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(341,292)	(331,897)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	414,543	412,018
Goodwill	74,139	74,008
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	2,822	2,938
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	837	884
Deferred income tax asset	50,215	47,644
Other	9,108	6,407
Total assets	605,295	605,745
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	26,803	22,650
Accrued expenses	29,911	29,934
Deferred revenue	11,122	15,275
Current maturities of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	8,485	8,273
Total current liabilities	76,321	76,132
Long-term liabilities:
Capital leases and long-term financing obligations, less current maturities	202,749	204,556
Intercompany liabilities	129,344	129,877
Other	22,413	22,438
Total long-term liabilities	354,506	356,871
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	1	1
Paid-in capital	269,635	269,635
Accumulated deficit	(95,168)	(96,894)
Total stockholders' equity	174,468	172,742
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	605,295	605,745
Eliminations [Member]
Current assets:
Accounts receivable	(9,993)	(13,191)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(15,548)	(14,921)
Total current assets	(25,541)	(28,112)
Property and equipment:
Intercompany receivables	(129,344)	(129,877)
Investments in subsidiaries	(174,468)	(172,742)
Total assets	(329,353)	(330,731)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(9,993)	(13,191)
Accrued expenses	(15,548)	(14,921)
Total current liabilities	(25,541)	(28,112)
Long-term liabilities:
Intercompany liabilities	(129,344)	(129,877)
Total long-term liabilities	(129,344)	(129,877)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(1)	(1)
Paid-in capital	(269,635)	(269,635)
Accumulated deficit	95,168	96,894
Total stockholders' equity	(174,468)	(172,742)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (329,353)	$ (330,731)