General - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Jun. 28, 2018	Mar. 29, 2018	Jun. 27, 2019	Jun. 28, 2018
Beginning Balance	$ 597,859	$ 490,119	$ 450,494	$ 445,124	$ 490,119	$ 445,124
Exercise of stock options	450	454	1,174	929
Purchase of treasury stock	(213)	(428)	(496)	(453)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		1,181		1,130
Reissuance of treasury stock	278	47	236	49
Share-based compensation	949	777	715	596
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition		109,197
Other		(109)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(35)	(60)		(19)
Comprehensive income (loss)	17,884	1,497	19,056	9,776	19,381	28,832
Ending Balance	612,342	597,859	467,091	450,494	612,342	467,091
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings				(2,568)		(2,568)
Capital in Excess of Par [Member]
Beginning Balance	143,094	63,830	62,555	61,452	63,830	61,452
Exercise of stock options	(27)	(78)	(33)	(62)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		810		651
Reissuance of treasury stock	182	31	143	26
Issuance of non-vested stock	(142)	(127)	(127)	(108)
Share-based compensation	949	777	715	596
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition		77,960
Other		(109)
Ending Balance	144,056	143,094	63,253	62,555	144,056	63,253
Retained Earnings [Member]
Beginning Balance	436,222	439,178	407,952	403,206	439,178	403,206
Comprehensive income (loss)	18,066	1,860	18,619	9,821
Ending Balance	449,458	436,222	422,483	407,952	449,458	422,483
Retained Earnings [Member] \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings				(11)		(11)
Retained Earnings [Member] \| Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings				1,574		1,574
Retained Earnings [Member] \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings				(2,568)		(2,568)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Beginning Balance	(7,055)	(6,758)	(9,018)	(7,425)	(6,758)	(7,425)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(353)	(297)	344	(30)
Ending Balance	(7,408)	(7,055)	(8,674)	(9,018)	(7,408)	(8,674)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings				11		11
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] \| Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings				(1,574)		(1,574)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance	(5,576)	(37,431)	(42,251)	(43,399)	(37,431)	(43,399)
Exercise of stock options	477	532	1,207	991
Purchase of treasury stock	(213)	(428)	(496)	(453)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		371		479
Reissuance of treasury stock	96	16	93	23
Issuance of non-vested stock	142	127	127	108
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition		31,237
Ending Balance	(5,074)	(5,576)	(41,320)	(42,251)	(5,074)	(41,320)
Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Beginning Balance	597,875	490,009	450,428	445,024	490,009	445,024
Exercise of stock options	450	454	1,174	929
Purchase of treasury stock	(213)	(428)	(496)	(453)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution		1,181		1,130
Reissuance of treasury stock	278	47	236	49
Share-based compensation	949	777	715	596
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition		109,197
Other		(109)
Comprehensive income (loss)	17,713	1,563	18,963	9,791
Ending Balance	612,222	597,875	466,932	450,428	612,222	466,932
Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member] \| Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings				(2,568)		(2,568)
Non- controlling Interests [Member]
Beginning Balance	(16)	110	66	100	110	100
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(35)	(60)		(19)
Comprehensive income (loss)	171	(66)	93	(15)
Ending Balance	120	(16)	159	66	120	159
Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance	23,254	22,843	22,664	22,656	22,843	22,656
Cash dividends:	(3,675)	(3,633)	(2,926)	(2,907)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		411	5	8
Ending Balance	23,254	23,254	22,669	22,664	23,254	22,669
Common Stock [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:	(3,675)	(3,633)	(2,926)	(2,907)
Common Stock [Member] \| Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:	(3,675)	(3,633)	(2,926)	(2,907)
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance	7,936	8,347	8,526	8,534	8,347	8,534
Cash dividends:	(1,155)	(1,183)	(1,162)	(1,163)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock		(411)	(5)	(8)
Ending Balance	7,936	7,936	8,521	8,526	$ 7,936	$ 8,521
Class B Common Stock [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:	(1,155)	(1,183)	(1,162)	(1,163)
Class B Common Stock [Member] \| Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:	$ (1,155)	$ (1,183)	$ (1,162)	$ (1,163)

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