Entity Central Index Key Theatre access fees net of revenues payable. Accrued cost and other reimbursable expense receivable payable. Distributions payable. Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Type Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Trading Symbol Trading Symbol Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Payable to founding members under tax sharing agreement, current. Payable to founding members under tax sharing agreement, noncurrent. Additional paid in capital and accumulated deficit common stock. Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] CURRENT ASSETS: Assets Current [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value Short-term marketable securities Available For Sale Securities Current Receivables, net of allowance of $6.6 and $6.3, respectively Accounts Receivable Net Current Prepaid expenses Prepaid Expense Current Income tax receivable Income Taxes Receivable Current portion of notes receivable - founding members Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current Other current assets Other Assets Current Total current assets Assets Current NON-CURRENT ASSETS: Assets Noncurrent [Abstract] Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $66.8 and $64.1, respectively Property Plant And Equipment Net Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $125.8 and $118.9, respectively Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net Deferred tax assets Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent Long-term notes receivable, net of current portion - founding members Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent Other investments Other Long Term Investments Long-term marketable securities Available For Sale Securities Noncurrent Debt issuance costs, net Debt Issuance Costs Line Of Credit Arrangements Net Other assets Other Assets Noncurrent Total non-current assets Assets Noncurrent TOTAL ASSETS Assets LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/(DEFICIT) Liabilities And Stockholders Equity [Abstract] CURRENT LIABILITIES: Liabilities Current [Abstract] Amounts due to founding members Due To Related Parties Current Payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement Payable To Founding Members Under Tax Sharing Agreement Current Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities Current Accrued payroll and related expenses Employee Related Liabilities Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable Current Deferred revenue Deferred Revenue Current Total current liabilities Liabilities Current NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES: Liabilities Noncurrent [Abstract] Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs of $10.2 and $10.7, respectively Long Term Debt Noncurrent Deferred tax liability Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent Income tax payable Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent Payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement Payable To Founding Members Under Tax Sharing Agreement Noncurrent Total non-current liabilities Liabilities Noncurrent Total liabilities Liabilities COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 7) Commitments And Contingencies EQUITY/(DEFICIT): Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding, respectively Preferred Stock Value Common stock, $0.01 par value; 175,000,000 shares authorized, 60,595,401 and 59,874,412 issued and outstanding, respectively Common Stock Value Additional paid in capital/(deficit) Additional Paid In Capital And Accumulated Deficit Common Stock Retained earnings (distributions in excess of earnings) Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit Total NCM, Inc. stockholders’ equity/(deficit) Stockholders Equity Noncontrolling interests Minority Interest Total equity/(deficit) Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/DEFICIT Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current Accumulated depreciation, property and equipment Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment Accumulated amortization, intangible assets Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Debt issuance costs, long-term Deferred Finance Costs Noncurrent Net Preferred stock, par value Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, shares authorized Preferred Stock Shares Authorized Preferred stock, shares issued Preferred Stock Shares Issued Preferred stock, shares outstanding Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding Common stock, par value Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock Shares Authorized Common stock, shares issued Common Stock Shares Issued Common stock, shares outstanding Common Stock Shares Outstanding Direct costs arising from transactions associated with network operations. These costs are categorized as cost of goods sold. Income Statement [Abstract] REVENUE (including revenue from founding members of $8.4 and $7.3, respectively) Advertising Revenue OPERATING EXPENSES: Operating Expenses [Abstract] Advertising operating costs Advertising Revenue Cost Network costs Network Costs Theater access fees—founding members Related Party Costs Selling and marketing costs Selling And Marketing Expense Administrative and other costs General And Administrative Expense Depreciation and amortization Depreciation And Amortization Total Costs And Expenses OPERATING INCOME Operating Income Loss NON-OPERATING EXPENSES: Nonoperating Income Expense [Abstract] Interest on borrowings Interest Expense Debt Interest income Interest And Other Income Accretion of interest on the discounted payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement Accretion Expense Other non-operating income Other Nonoperating Income Total Nonoperating Income Expense LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest Income tax benefit Income Tax Expense Benefit CONSOLIDATED NET LOSS Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income Loss Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NCM, INC. Net Income Loss NET LOSS PER NCM, INC. COMMON SHARE: Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Basic Earnings Per Share Basic Diluted Earnings Per Share Diluted WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Basic Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic Diluted Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Dividends declared per common share Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared Revenue from founding members Revenue From Related Parties Payment to founding members under tax sharing arrangement. Payments received from related parties for their acquired theatres that are subject to an existing on-screen advertising contract. Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract] CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations [Abstract] Consolidated net loss Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities [Abstract] Deferred income tax expense Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit Non-cash share-based compensation Share Based Compensation Impairment on investment Costmethod Investments Other Than Temporary Impairment Amortization of debt issuance costs Amortization Of Financing Costs Other Other Noncash Income Expense Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Increase Decrease In Operating Capital [Abstract] Receivables, net Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable Accounts payable and accrued expenses Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities Amounts due to founding members Increase Decrease In Due To Related Parties Current Payment to founding members under tax receivable agreement Payment To Founding Members Under Tax Sharing Arrangement Deferred revenue Increase Decrease In Deferred Revenue Income taxes and other Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations [Abstract] Purchases of property and equipment Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment Purchases of marketable securities Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Proceeds from sale and maturities of marketable securities Proceeds From Sale And Maturity Of Available For Sale Securities Purchases of intangible assets from network affiliates Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets Proceeds from notes receivable - founding members Proceeds From Collection Of Longterm Loans To Related Parties Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations [Abstract] Payment of dividends Payments Of Dividends Common Stock Proceeds from borrowings Proceeds From Long Term Lines Of Credit Repayments of borrowings Repayments Of Long Term Lines Of Credit Founding member integration payments Proceeds From Integration Payments Made By Affiliates Distributions to founding members Payments Of Distributions To Affiliates Proceeds from stock option exercises Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised Repurchase of stock for restricted stock tax withholding Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Noncash distributions to founding members. Increase decrease in dividends not requiring cash. Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activity: Cash Flow Noncash Investing And Financing Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Purchase of an intangible asset with NCM LLC equity Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Intangible Assets Acquired1 Accrued distributions to founding members Noncash Distributions To Founding Members Increase (decrease) in dividends not requiring cash in the period Increase Decrease In Dividends Not Requiring Cash Increase in cost and equity method investments Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Investments Acquired1 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Cash paid for interest Interest Paid Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds Income Taxes Paid Net Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Equity Components Statement Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component Equity Component [Domain] Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member] Additional Paid In Capital (Deficit) [Member] Additional Paid In Capital [Member] Retained Earnings (Distribution In Excess Of Earnings) [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Balance Balance, shares Distributions to founding members Minority Interest Decrease From Distributions To Noncontrolling Interest Holders NCM LLC equity issued for purchase of intangible asset Noncontrolling Interest Increase From Subsidiary Equity Issuance Income tax and other impacts of NCM LLC ownership changes Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other Comprehensive income, net of tax Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest Share-based compensation issued, value Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation Share-based compensation issued, shares Stock Issued During Period Shares Share Based Compensation Share-based compensation expense/capitalized Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation Adjustment To Additional Paid In Capital Income Tax Effect From Share Based Compensation Net Cash dividends declared Dividends Common Stock Cash Balance Balance, shares Dividends per share Accounting Policies [Abstract] The Company Organization Consolidation Basis Of Presentation Business Description And Accounting Policies [Text Block] Loss Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Intangible Assets Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Related Party Transactions Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Borrowings Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Subsequent Events [Abstract] Subsequent Event Subsequent Events [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Basis Of Accounting Policy Policy [Text Block] Estimates Use Of Estimates Disclosure of accounting policy for concentration of credit risk and significant customers. Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers Concentration Of Credit Risk And Significant Customers Policy [Text Block] Share-Based Compensation Share Based Compensation Option And Incentive Plans Policy Consolidation Consolidation Policy [Text Block] Recently adopted accounting pronouncements. Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Policy [Text Block] Recently issued accounting pronouncements. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Policy [Text Block] Changes In Equity Consolidation Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary Parent Ownership Interest Effects Of Changes Net [Text Block] Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Schedule Of Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted Table [Text Block] Schedule Of Related Party Transactions By Related Party [Table] Schedule Of Related Party Transactions By Related Party [Table] Related Party Related Party Transactions By Related Party [Axis] Related Party Related Party [Domain] "Founding Members" refer to AMC, Regal and Cinemark and their affiliates. Founding Members [Member] Founding Members [Member] Related Party Transaction [Line Items] Related Party Transaction [Line Items]