Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 18,579	$ 421
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(17,750)	(7,454)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(36)	(3)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,600	263
Other investing activities	(17)	55
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(16,203)	(7,139)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	(2,040)	(1,756)
Issuance of common stock	33
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,471)	(1,483)
Earnout payment for acquisitions	(1,570)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(7,048)	(3,239)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,672)	(9,957)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	97,537	143,867
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	92,865	133,910
Eliminations [Member]
Cash flows from investing activities:
Intercompany receivable/payable	(625)	(13,076)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(625)	(13,076)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany receivable/payable	625	13,076
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	625	13,076
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	4,492	(4,392)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(3,112)	(1,424)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,575	222
Intercompany receivable/payable	625	13,076
Other investing activities	(17)	55
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(929)	11,929
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	(300)	(291)
Issuance of common stock	33
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,471)	(1,483)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,738)	(1,774)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(175)	5,763
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	66,010	99,947
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	65,835	105,710
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	14,087	4,813
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(14,638)	(6,030)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(36)	(3)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	25	41
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(14,649)	(5,992)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of capital leases and long-term financing obligations	(1,740)	(1,465)
Earnout payment for acquisitions	(1,570)
Intercompany receivable/payable	(625)	(13,076)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(3,935)	(14,541)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,497)	(15,720)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	31,527	43,920
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 27,030	$ 28,200