General - Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Sep. 27, 2018	Jun. 28, 2018	Mar. 29, 2018	Sep. 26, 2019	Sep. 27, 2018
Beginning Balance	$ 612,342	$ 597,859	$ 490,119	$ 467,091	$ 450,494	$ 445,124	$ 490,119	$ 445,124
Exercise of stock options	440	450	454	4,799	1,174	929
Purchase of treasury stock	(478)	(213)	(428)	(1,949)	(496)	(453)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,181			1,130
Reissuance of treasury stock	47	278	47	47	236	49
Share-based compensation	868	949	777	639	715	596
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition			109,197
Other			(109)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(90)	(35)	(60)	(46)		(19)
Comprehensive income (loss)	14,203	17,884	1,497	16,574	19,056	9,776	33,584	45,406
Ending Balance	622,500	612,342	597,859	483,036	467,091	450,494	622,500	483,036
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member]
Reclassification to Unappropriated Retained Earnings						(2,568)		(2,568)
Capital in Excess of Par [Member]
Beginning Balance	144,056	143,094	63,830	63,253	62,555	61,452	63,830	61,452
Exercise of stock options	(134)	(27)	(78)	(672)	(33)	(62)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			810			651
Reissuance of treasury stock	28	182	31	32	143	26
Issuance of non-vested stock	(131)	(142)	(127)	(113)	(127)	(108)
Share-based compensation	868	949	777	639	715	596
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition			77,960
Other			(109)
Ending Balance	144,687	144,056	143,094	63,139	63,253	62,555	144,687	63,139
Retained Earnings [Member]
Beginning Balance	449,458	436,222	439,178	422,483	407,952	403,206	439,178	403,206
Comprehensive income (loss)	14,289	18,066	1,860	16,231	18,619	9,821
Ending Balance	458,915	449,458	436,222	434,595	422,483	407,952	458,915	434,595
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	(7,408)	(7,055)	(6,758)	(8,674)	(9,018)	(7,425)	(6,758)	(7,425)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(27)	(353)	(297)	351	344	(30)
Ending Balance	(7,435)	(7,408)	(7,055)	(8,323)	(8,674)	(9,018)	(7,435)	(8,323)
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	(5,074)	(5,576)	(37,431)	(41,320)	(42,251)	(43,399)	(37,431)	(43,399)
Exercise of stock options	574	477	532	5,471	1,207	991
Purchase of treasury stock	(478)	(213)	(428)	(1,949)	(496)	(453)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			371			479
Reissuance of treasury stock	19	96	16	15	93	23
Issuance of non-vested stock	131	142	127	113	127	108
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition			31,237
Ending Balance	(4,828)	(5,074)	(5,576)	(37,670)	(41,320)	(42,251)	(4,828)	(37,670)
Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Beginning Balance	612,222	597,875	490,009	466,932	450,428	445,024	490,009	445,024
Exercise of stock options	440	450	454	4,799	1,174	929
Purchase of treasury stock	(478)	(213)	(428)	(1,949)	(496)	(453)
Savings and profit-sharing contribution			1,181			1,130
Reissuance of treasury stock	47	278	47	47	236	49
Share-based compensation	868	949	777	639	715	596
Reissuance of treasury stock-acquisition			109,197
Other			(109)
Comprehensive income (loss)	14,262	17,713	1,563	16,582	18,963	9,791
Ending Balance	622,529	612,222	597,875	482,931	466,932	450,428	622,529	482,931
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	120	(16)	110	159	66	100	110	100
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(90)	(35)	(60)	(46)		(19)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(59)	171	(66)	(8)	93	(15)
Ending Balance	(29)	120	(16)	105	159	66	(29)	105
Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance	23,254	23,254	22,843	22,669	22,664	22,656	22,843	22,656
Cash dividends:	(3,677)	(3,675)	(3,633)	(2,980)	(2,926)	(2,907)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			411	173	5	8
Ending Balance	23,254	23,254	23,254	22,842	22,669	22,664	23,254	22,842
Common Stock [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:	(3,677)	(3,675)	(3,633)	(2,980)	(2,926)	(2,907)
Common Stock [Member] \| Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:	(3,677)	(3,675)	(3,633)	(2,980)	(2,926)	(2,907)
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance	7,936	7,936	8,347	8,521	8,526	8,534	8,347	8,534
Cash dividends:	(1,155)	(1,155)	(1,183)	(1,139)	(1,162)	(1,163)
Conversions of Class B Common Stock			(411)	(173)	(5)	(8)
Ending Balance	7,936	7,936	7,936	8,348	8,521	8,526	$ 7,936	$ 8,348
Class B Common Stock [Member] \| Retained Earnings [Member]
Cash dividends:	(1,155)	(1,155)	(1,183)	(1,139)	(1,162)	(1,163)
Class B Common Stock [Member] \| Shareholders' Equity Attributable to The Marcus Corporation [Member]
Cash dividends:	$ (1,155)	$ (1,155)	$ (1,183)	$ (1,139)	$ (1,162)	$ (1,163)

Issuance of common stock issued to employees as nonvested stock under stock based compensation plans.

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