National CineMedia (NCMI) 10-K 9 Mar 21 2020 FY Annual report Financial data

Document And Entity Information

Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 26, 2021	Jun. 25, 2020
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	NCMI
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001377630
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 176,290,673
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		79,652,027
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Entity File Number	001-33296
Entity Registrant Name	NATIONAL CINEMEDIA, INC.
Entity Address, Address Line One	6300 S. Syracuse Way, Suite 300
City Area Code	303
Local Phone Number	792-3600
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 176,290,673
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		79,652,027
Document Type	10-K
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	80111
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-5665602
Entity Address, State or Province	CO
Entity Address, City or Town	Centennial
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 180.3	$ 55.9
Short-term marketable securities	0.3	17.5
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Current	2.3	6.2
Receivables, net of allowance of $2.3 and $6.2, respectively	16.2	170.8
Amounts due from founding members, net	0	6.6
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	3.1	3.5
Total current assets	199.9	254.3
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant and Equipment, Period Increase (Decrease)	77.7	70.7
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	223	198.9
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	212	81.6
NON-CURRENT ASSETS:
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $77.7 and $70.7, respectively	27.5	33.2
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $223.0 and $198.9, respectively	627.8	643.7
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance of $212.0 and $81.6, respectively	0	162.1
Other investments	0.8	1
Long-term marketable securities	1.2	7.5
Debt issuance costs, net	3.3	3.9
Other assets	25.7	24.3
Total non-current assets	686.3	875.7
TOTAL ASSETS	886.2	1,130
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Amounts due to founding members, net	2	36.8
Payable to founding members under the TRA (related party payables of $0.6 and $10.3, respectively)	0.9	14.2
Accrued expenses	19	22.1
Accrued payroll and related expenses	4.8	13.8
Accounts payable	13.7	20.7
Deferred revenue	5.1	7.6
Short-term debt	2.7	2.7
Other Liabilities, Current	1.8	1.6
Total current liabilities	50	119.5
Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent, Net	8	9
Payment To Founding Members Under The Tax Receivable Agreement	(12.8)	(15.1)
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs of $8.0 and $9.0, respectively	1,049.6	923.9
Payable to founding members under the TRA (related party payables of $23.7 and $133.5, respectively)	32.6	183.8
Other liabilities	22.6	24
Total non-current liabilities	1,104.8	1,131.7
Total liabilities	1,154.8	1,251.2
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 13)
NCM, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity/(Deficit):
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding, respectively	$ 0	$ 0
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	78,040,818	77,568,986
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	175,000,000
Common stock, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.01
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 175,000,000 shares authorized, 78,040,818 and 77,568,986 issued and outstanding, respectively	$ 0.8	$ 0.8
Additional paid in capital (deficit)	(207.5)	(209.2)
Retained earnings (distributions in excess of earnings)	(266.4)	(171.1)
Total NCM, Inc. stockholders’ equity/(deficit)	(473.1)	(379.5)
Noncontrolling interests	204.5	258.3
Total equity/(deficit)	(268.6)	(121.2)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/DEFICIT	$ 886.2	$ 1,130

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (PA

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (PARENTHETICAL) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss, Current	$ 2.3	$ 6.2
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	77.7	70.7
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	223	198.9	$ 172.7
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	212	81.6
Current payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	0.9	14.2
Long-term payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	32.6	183.8
Debt Issuance Costs, Noncurrent, Net	$ 8	$ 9
Preferred stock, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0
Common stock, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	175,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	78,040,818	77,568,986
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	78,040,818
Related Party Founding Members
Current payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	$ 0.6	$ 10.3
Long-term payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	$ 23.7	$ 133.5

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Revenue (including revenue from related parties of $4.9 and $23.0, respectively)	$ 90,400,000	$ 444,800,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Network costs	8,600,000	13,500,000
Theater access fees and revenue share to founding members (including fees to related parties of $16.0 and $56.6, respectively)	24,600,000	82,700,000
Selling and marketing costs	37,600,000	64,900,000
Administrative and other costs	30,900,000	43,800,000
Asset Impairment Charges	1,700,000	0
Depreciation expense	13,100,000	13,600,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets	24,600,000	26,700,000
Amortization of Leased Asset	24,600,000	26,700,000
Total	151,400,000	283,500,000
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	(61,000,000)	161,300,000
NON-OPERATING EXPENSES:
Interest on borrowings	55,800,000	58,000,000
Interest income	(600,000)	(2,100,000)
Loss on early retirement of debt, net	400,000	5,600,000
(Gain) loss on re-measurement of the payable to founding    members under the TRA	(152,700,000)	1,100,000
Other non-operating expense (income)	200,000	(400,000)
Total	(96,900,000)	62,200,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	35,900,000	99,100,000
Income tax expense	162,200,000	12,400,000
CONSOLIDATED NET (LOSS) INCOME	(126,300,000)	86,700,000
Less:  Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(60,900,000)	50,600,000
NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NCM, INC.	(65,400,000)	36,100,000
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NCM, INC.	$ (65,400,000)	$ 36,100,000
NET (LOSS) INCOME PER NCM, INC. COMMON SHARE:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.47
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.46
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic (in shares)	77,955,675	77,345,577
Diluted (in shares)	77,955,675	77,782,567
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.68
Related Party Founding Members
Revenue (including revenue from related parties of $4.9 and $23.0, respectively)	$ 4,900,000	$ 23,000,000
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Theater access fees and revenue share to founding members (including fees to related parties of $16.0 and $56.6, respectively)	16,000,000	56,600,000
Selling and marketing costs	100,000	400,000
Advertising operating costs
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Advertising operating costs	$ 10,300,000	$ 38,300,000

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF IN_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (PARENTHETICAL) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Revenue	$ 90.4	$ 444.8
Related Party Founding Members
Revenue	4.9	23
Related Party Costs	$ 16	$ 56.6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Consolidated net (loss) income	$ (126.3)	$ 86.7
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX:
COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NCM, INC.	$ (65.4)	$ 36.1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CO_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (PARENTHETICAL) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Consolidated net income, tax	$ 162.2	$ 12.4

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUI

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY/(DEFICIT) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid in Capital (Deficit)	Retained Earnings (Distribution in Excess of Earnings)	Noncontrolling Interest
Balance at Dec. 27, 2018	$ (89.2)	$ 0.8	$ (215.2)	$ (153.6)	$ 278.8
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2018		76,976,398
Issuance of shares, shares	1,700,000	197,118	1,700,000
NCM, Inc. investment in NCM LLC	$ 1.7		$ 1.7
Share-based compensation issued, value	(1.3)		(1.3)
Share-based compensation issued, shares		395,470
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	5.7		4.3		1.4
Cash dividends declared	(53.6)			(53.6)
Balance at Dec. 26, 2019	(121.2)	$ 0.8	(209.2)	(171.1)	258.3
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 26, 2019		77,568,986
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	$ (76.4)				(76.4)
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.68
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance	$ 7.6		3.7		3.9
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other	(0.7)		(0.7)		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	86.7			36.1	50.6
Share-based compensation issued, value	(1)		(1)
Share-based compensation issued, shares		471,832
APIC, Share-based Payment Arrangement, Increase for Cost Recognition	2.5		1.6		0.9
Cash dividends declared	(31.1)			(31.1)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ (268.6)	$ 0.8	(207.5)	(266.4)	204.5
Balance, (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	78,040,818	78,040,818
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13 to Retained Earnings				1.2
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13 to NCI					1.7
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	$ (4.4)				(4.4)
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.40
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance	$ 10.5		5		5.5
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Other	(0.5)		$ (3.9)		3.4
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ (126.3)			$ (65.4)	$ (60.9)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQ_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY/(DEFICIT) (PARENTHETICAL) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Dividends per share	$ 0.40	$ 0.68

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated net (loss) income	$ (126,300,000)	$ 86,700,000
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Deferred income tax expense	162,400,000	12,100,000
Depreciation expense	13,100,000	13,600,000
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	24,600,000	26,700,000
Amortization of Leased Asset	24,600,000	26,700,000
Non-cash share-based compensation	2,200,000	5,500,000
Asset Impairment Charges	1,700,000	0
Impairment on investment	0	2,000,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs	2,500,000	2,600,000
Loss on early retirement of debt, net	400,000	5,600,000
Non-cash (gain) loss on re-measurement of the payable to founding members under the TRA	(152,700,000)	1,100,000
Other	100,000	(1,000,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, net	158,000,000	(20,900,000)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(18,500,000)	3,600,000
Amounts due to founding members, net	(4,100,000)	2,100,000
Deferred revenue	(2,500,000)	300,000
Other, net	2,500,000	(2,600,000)
OtherCFfromOperatingActivities	(100,000)	(400,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	55,300,000	143,600,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment	(8,000,000)	(14,000,000)
Purchases of marketable securities	(8,200,000)	(24,500,000)
Proceeds from sale and maturities of marketable securities	31,800,000	34,500,000
Proceeds from Collection of Long-term Loans to Related Parties	0	5,600,000
Net cash provided by investing activities	15,600,000	1,600,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payment of dividends	(32,000,000)	(53,600,000)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	210,000,000	169,000,000
Repayments of revolving credit facility	(82,000,000)	(157,000,000)
Repayments of term loan facility	(3,400,000)	(2,700,000)
Repayment of Senior Notes due 2022 and 2026	0	400,000,000
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2021	0	(408,600,000)
Payment of debt issuance costs	(1,300,000)	(4,600,000)
Founding member integration payments and other encumbered theater payments	9,800,000	21,700,000
Distributions to founding members	(36,800,000)	(71,900,000)
Repurchase of stock for restricted stock tax withholding	(1,000,000)	(1,300,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	53,500,000	(130,700,000)
Payment To Founding Members Under The Tax Receivable Agreement	(12,800,000)	(15,100,000)
CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	124,400,000	14,500,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	55,900,000	41,400,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	180,300,000	55,900,000
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activity:
Purchase of an intangible asset with NCM LLC equity	10,500,000	7,600,000
Accrued distributions to founding members (including accrued payments due from related parties of $0.0 and $32.4, respectively)	0	32,400,000
Accrued integration and other encumbered theater payments from founding members (including accrued payments due from related parties of $0.0 and $0.1, respectively)	0	8,400,000
Purchase of subsidiary equity with NCM, Inc. equity	0	1,700,000
Accrued purchases of property and equipment	1,200,000	400,000
(Decrease) increase in dividend equivalent accrual not requiring cash in the period	(100,000)	100,000
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	54,600,000	54,300,000
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	500,000	100,000
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates	9,800,000	21,700,000
Proceeds from Collection of Long-term Loans to Related Parties	0	5,600,000
Related Party Founding Members
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from Collection of Long-term Loans to Related Parties	0	4,200,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Founding member integration payments and other encumbered theater payments	100,000	800,000
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activity:
Accrued distributions to founding members (including accrued payments due from related parties of $0.0 and $32.4, respectively)	0	32,400,000
Accrued integration and other encumbered theater payments from founding members (including accrued payments due from related parties of $0.0 and $0.1, respectively)	0	100,000
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates	100,000	800,000
Proceeds from Collection of Long-term Loans to Related Parties	$ 0	$ 4,200,000

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CA_2

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (PARENTHETICAL) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Proceeds from Collection of Long-term Loans to Related Parties	$ 0	$ 5.6
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates	9.8	21.7
Accrued Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Due From Founding Members	0	8.4
Accrued distributions to founding members (including accrued payments due from related parties of $0.0 and $32.4, respectively)	0	32.4
Related Party Founding Members
Proceeds from Collection of Long-term Loans to Related Parties	0	4.2
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates	0.1	0.8
Accrued Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Due From Founding Members	0	0.1
Accrued distributions to founding members (including accrued payments due from related parties of $0.0 and $32.4, respectively)	$ 0	$ 32.4

Basis of Presentation and Summa

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES NCM, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware as a holding company with the sole purpose of becoming a member and sole manager of NCM LLC, a limited liability company owned by NCM, Inc., Cinemark, Regal and AMC. The terms “NCM”, “the Company” or “we” shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be deemed to include the consolidated entity. The Company operates the largest cinema advertising network reaching movie audiences in the U.S., allowing NCM LLC to sell advertising under long-term ESAs with the founding members and certain third-party network affiliates, under long-term network affiliate agreements. Beginning in mid-March 2020, each of the Company’s founding members and all of its network affiliates announced that their theaters would be temporarily closed to address the COVID-19 Pandemic and almost all of the theaters within the Company’s network remained closed until late August 2020. The Company generated no in-theater advertising revenue for the period that the theaters were closed. On September 4, 2020, the Company resumed advertising within the theaters that were open in its network, however, in-theater advertising revenue continues to be adversely impacted as attendance remains lower than historical levels due to government restrictions including mandated patron capacity limitations and a continued lack of new major motion picture releases. In October 2020, Regal announced the re-closure of its theaters in the United States. As of December 31, 2020, 40.5% of the theaters within the Company’s network were open. On September 17, 2019, NCM LLC entered into the 2019 ESA Amendments. The 2019 ESA Amendments extended the contract life of the ESAs with Cinemark and Regal by four years resulting in a weighted average remaining term of the ESAs with the founding members (based on pre-COVID-19 attendance levels) of approximately 18.7 as of December 31, 2020. The network affiliate agreements expire at various dates between March 31, 2021 and July 22, 2031. The weighted average remaining term (based on pre-COVID-19 attendance levels) of the ESAs and the network affiliate agreements together is 16.3 years as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, NCM LLC had 162,572,146 common membership units outstanding, of which 78,040,818 (48.0%) were owned by NCM, Inc., 42,290,694 (26.0%) were owned by Regal, 40,850,068 (25.1%) were owned by Cinemark and 1,390,566 (0.9%) were owned by AMC. The membership units held by the founding members are exchangeable into NCM, Inc. common stock on a one-for-one basis. Basis of Presentation The Company has prepared its Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes of NCM, Inc. in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made. The Company’s business is seasonal and for this and other reasons operating results for interim periods may not be indicative of the Company’s full year results or future performance. As a result of the various related-party agreements discussed in Note 9— Related Party Transactions , the operating results as presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that might have occurred if all agreements were with non-related third parties. Advertising is the principal business activity of the Company and is the Company’s only reportable segment under the requirements of ASC 280 – Segment Reporting. Estimates —The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include those related to the reserve for uncollectible accounts receivable, share-based compensation and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant Accounting Policies Accounting Period —The Company has a 52-week or 53-week fiscal year ending on the first Thursday after December 25. Fiscal year 2019 contained 52 weeks and 2020 contained 53 weeks. Throughout this document, the fiscal years are referred to as set forth below: Fiscal Year Ended Reference in December 31, 2020 2020 December 26, 2019 2019 Revenue Recognition —The Company derives revenue principally from the sale of advertising to national, regional and local businesses in Noovie® , our cinema advertising and entertainment pre-show seen on movie screens across the U.S., as well as on our LEN, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theater lobbies. We also sell digital online and mobile advertising through our Noovie Audience Accelerator product and across our suite of Noovie digital properties, including Noovie.com, Noovie Shuffle, Name That Movie and Noovie Arcade , in order to reach entertainment audiences beyond the theater. The Company also has a long-term agreement to exhibit the advertising of the founding members’ beverage suppliers. The Company considers the terms of each arrangement to determine the appropriate accounting treatment as more fully discussed in Note 2— Revenue from Contracts with Customers . Operating Costs —Advertising fulfillment-related operating costs primarily include personnel and other costs related to advertising fulfillment, payments due to unaffiliated theater circuits under the network affiliate agreements, and to a lesser extent, production costs of non-digital advertising. Payments to the founding members of a theater access fee is comprised of a payment per theater attendee, a payment for post-showtime advertising, a payment per digital screen and a payment per digital cinema projector equipped in the theaters, all of which escalate over time, and payment for revenue share of the Platinum Spot. Refer to Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this document. Network costs include personnel, satellite bandwidth, repairs, and other costs of maintaining and operating the digital network and preparing advertising and other content for transmission across the digital network. Advertising Costs —Advertising-related costs incurred promoting the Company's digital products are included within “Selling and marketing costs” on the audited Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized advertising costs of $0.2 million and $1.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively. These costs are expensed when incurred. Cash and Cash Equivalents —All highly liquid debt instruments and investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are classified as cash equivalents and are considered available-for-sale securities. There are cash balances in a bank in excess of the federally insured limits or in the form of a money market demand account with a major financial institution. The Company has elected the fair value option for valuing its cash equivalents. The cash equivalents are valued at fair value at each balance sheet date and the change in value from the prior period is recognized within “Other non-operating income (loss)” on the audited Consolidated Statements of Income. Marketable Securities —The Company’s marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. The fair value of substantially all securities is determined by quoted market information and pricing models using inputs based upon market information, including contractual terms, market prices and yield curves. The estimated fair value of securities for which there are no quoted market prices is based on similar types of securities that are traded in the market. Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers —The risk of credit loss related to the Company's trade receivables and unbilled receivables balances is accounted for through the allowance for doubtful accounts, a contra asset account which reduces the net receivables balance. The allowance for doubtful accounts balance is determined by pooling the Company's receivables with similar risk characteristics, specifically by type of customer (national or local/ regional) and then age of receivable, and applying historical write off percentages to these pools in order to determine the amount of expected credit losses as of the balance sheet date. National receivables are with large advertising agencies with strong reputations in the advertising industry and clients with stable financial positions and good credit ratings, represent larger receivables balances per customer and have significantly lower historical and expected credit loss patterns. Local and regional receivables are with smaller companies sometimes with less credit history and represent smaller receivable balances per customer and higher historical and expected credit loss patterns. The Company has smaller contracts with many local clients that are not individually significant. The Company also considers current economic conditions and trends to determine whether adjustments to historical loss rates are necessary. The Company increased the expected rate of default related to local and regional customers within the calculation of the allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2020, as compared to December 26, 2019, given the expected adverse impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on certain businesses, in particular, categories of small businesses (e.g. restaurants, travel, etc.) which the Company expects could lead to an increased rate of default. The Company also reserves for specific receivable balances that it expects to write off based on known concerns regarding the financial health of the customer. Receivables are written off when management determines amounts are uncollectible. As of December 31, 2020 there was one advertising agency group through which the Company sources national advertising revenue that accounted for 10.1% of the Company’s outstanding gross receivable balance. As of December 26, 2019 there was no advertising agency group through which the Company sources national advertising revenue that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding gross receivable balance. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company had one customer that accounted for 14.6% of the Company's revenue. During the year ended December 26, 2019, there were no customers that accounted for more than 10% of revenue. Receivables consisted of the following (in millions): As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Trade accounts $ 16.6 $ 176.0 Other 1.9 1.0 Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts (2.3) (6.2) Total $ 16.2 $ 170.8 Long-lived Assets —Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation or amortization. Generally, the equipment associated with the digital network of the founding member theaters is owned by the founding members, while the equipment associated with network affiliate theaters is owned by the Company. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, while replacements, maintenance, and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed as incurred. The Company records depreciation using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Equipment 4-10 years Computer hardware and software 3-5 years Leasehold improvements Lesser of lease term or asset life Software and website development costs developed or obtained for internal use are accounted for in accordance with ASC 350— Internal Use Software and ASC 350– Website Development Costs . The subtopics require the capitalization of certain costs incurred in developing or obtaining software for internal use. Software costs related primarily to the Company’s inventory management systems, digital products, digital network distribution system (DCS), enterprise resource planning system and website development costs, which are included in equipment, and are depreciated over three Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract as of September 28, 2018. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 the Company had a net book value of $3.0 million and $0.6 million of capitalized implementation costs for CCAs, respectively. These costs primarily relate to the Company's new hosted end-to-end order management and scheduling system which was implemented in January 2021. Since December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 were prior to the implementation of the system, the gross value of the capitalized implementation costs were equal to the net book value. These costs will be amortized to “Administrative and other costs” within the audited Consolidated Statements of Income over the life of the hosting arrangement beginning at implementation. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company recorded $1.9 million and $3.6 million in research and development expense, respectively. The Company assesses impairment of long-lived assets pursuant with ASC 360 – Property, Plant and Equipment. This includes determining if certain triggering events have occurred that could affect the value of an asset. The Company recorded losses of $0.2 million and $0.2 million related to the write-off of equipment during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively, which has been included within “Depreciation expense” within the respective audited Consolidated Statements of Income given the immaterial nature of the balances. The Company recorded losses of $1.7 million and $0.0 million related to the write-off of certain internally developed software during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively, which has been included within “Impairment of long-lived assets” within the respective audited Consolidated Statements of Income. Intangible Assets —Intangible assets consist of contractual rights to provide its services within the theaters of the founding members and network affiliates and are stated at cost, net of accumulated amortization. The Company records amortization using the straight-line method over the contractual life of the intangibles, corresponding to the term of the ESAs or the term of the contract with the network affiliate. Intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually during the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be fully recoverable. In its impairment testing, the Company estimates the fair value of its ESAs or network affiliate agreements by determining the estimated future cash flows associated with the ESAs or network affiliate agreements. If after determining that gross cash flows are insufficient to recover the asset, the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, the intangible asset is written down to its estimated fair value. Significant judgment is involved in estimating long-term cash flow forecasts. Refer to Note 5— Intangible Assets to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the Company's consideration of the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic within the impairment testing performed over the Company's intangible assets during the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company recorded $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, in impairment charges related to intangible assets during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019. These losses have been included within “Depreciation expense” within the respective audited Consolidated Statements of Income given the immaterial nature of the activity. The Company has elected to capitalize extension costs on its intangible assets and thus capitalized the legal and professional costs incurred in conjunction with the 2019 ESA Amendments. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company capitalized $0.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively within the intangible asset balance related to extension costs. Amounts Due to/from Founding Members —Amounts due to/from founding members include amounts due for the theater access fees and revenue share, offset by a receivable for advertising time purchased by the founding members on behalf of their beverage concessionaire, plus any amounts outstanding under other contractually obligated payments. Payments to or received from the founding members against outstanding balances are made monthly. Available cash distributions are made quarterly. Income Taxes —Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which differences are expected to be recovered or settled pursuant to the provisions of ASC 740 – Income Taxes . The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance if it is deemed more likely than not that all or a portion of its deferred income tax assets will not be realized, which will be assessed on an on-going basis. Only the portion of deferred income tax assets deemed more likely than not to be realized are considered within the calculation of the payable to the founding members under the TRA which is equal to 90% of the Company’s actual tax benefit realized from the tax amortization of the basis difference for qualifying deferred income tax assets. Refer to Note 7— Income Taxes to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of changes within the Company's valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, income tax rules and regulations are subject to interpretation and the application of those rules and regulations require judgment by the Company and may be challenged by the taxation authorities. The Company follows ASC 740-10-25, which requires the use of a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosures regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. Only tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are recognized. In addition, income tax rules and regulations are subject to interpretation and the application of those rules and regulations require judgment by the Company and may be challenged by the taxation authorities. The Company follows ASC 740-10-25, which requires the use of a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosures regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. Only tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are recognized. The Company recognizes the tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits of the position, the tax position will be sustained upon examination, including the resolution of any related appeals or litigation. The tax benefits recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements from such a position are measured as the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. Debt Issuance Costs —In relation to the issuance of outstanding debt discussed in Note 10— Borrowings , there is a balance of $11.3 million and $12.9 million in deferred financing costs as of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively. The debt issuance costs are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the underlying obligations and are included in interest on borrowings, which approximates the effective interest method. Debt issuance costs are written-off in the event that the underlying debt is extinguished through partial or full repayment of the obligation. The changes in debt issuance costs are as follows (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Beginning balance $ 12.9 $ 12.8 Debt issuance costs 0.9 4.6 Amortization of debt issuance costs (2.5) (2.6) Write-off of debt issuance costs — (1.9) Ending balance $ 11.3 $ 12.9 Share-Based Compensation —During 2020 and 2019, the Company issued stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. Restricted stock and restricted stock units vest upon the achievement of Company three on management’s financial projections and the probability of achieving the projections, which require considerable judgment. A cumulative adjustment is recorded to share-based compensation expense in periods that management changes its estimate of the number of shares expected to vest. Ultimately, the Company adjusts the expense recognized to reflect the actual vested shares following the resolution of the performance conditions. Dividends are accrued when declared on unvested restricted stock that is expected to vest and are only paid with respect to shares that actually vest. Compensation cost of stock options is based on the estimated grant date fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires that the Company make estimates of various factors. Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718 Compensation – Stock Compensation, the Company recognizes share-based compensation net of an estimated forfeiture rate, and therefore only recognizes compensation cost for those shares expected to vest over the requisite service period of the award. Refer to Note 11— Share-Based Compensation for more information. Fair Value Measurements —Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement: Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 – Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Consolidation —NCM, Inc. consolidates the accounts of NCM LLC under the provisions of ASC 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). Under Accounting Standards Update 2015-2, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-2”), a limited partnership is a variable interest entity unless a simple majority or lower threshold of all limited partners unrelated to the general partner have kick-out or participating rights. The non-managing members of NCM LLC do not have dissolution rights or removal rights. NCM, Inc. has evaluated the provisions of the NCM LLC membership agreement and has concluded that the various rights of the non-managing members are not substantive participating rights under ASC 810, as they do not limit NCM, Inc.’s ability to make decisions in the ordinary course of business. As such, the Company concluded that NCM LLC is a variable interest entity and determined that NCM, Inc. should consolidate the accounts of NCM LLC pursuant to ASU 2015-2 because 1) it has the power to direct the activities of NCM LLC in its role as managing member and 2) NCM, Inc. has the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, NCM LLC that could potentially be significant provided its 48.0% ownership in NCM LLC. Prior to the prospective adoption of ASU 2015-2 in the first quarter of 2016, the Company reached the same conclusion under previous guidance in ASC 810 to consolidate NCM LLC. The following table presents the changes in NCM, Inc.’s equity resulting from net income attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers to or from noncontrolling interests (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. $ (65.4) $ 36.1 NCM LLC equity issued for purchase of intangible asset 5.0 3.7 Income tax and other impacts of NCM LLC ownership changes (3.9) (0.7) NCM, Inc. investment in NCM LLC — (1.7) Issuance of shares to founding members — 1.7 Change from net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers from $ (64.3) $ 39.1 Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements During the first quarter of 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Statements (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires a financial asset (or group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on December 27, 2019, the Company recorded a $3.2 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings related to the change in methodology surrounding the historical losses utilized in the calculation of the allowance for credit losses related to trade and unbilled accounts receivable reducing the allowance to $3.0 million as of the adoption date. The Company also recorded a corresponding $0.4 million reduction to the corresponding deferred tax asset with the offset also recorded to retained earnings. The other impacts upon adoption were immaterial to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company has incorporated additional disclosures in Note 1— The Company , Note 2— Revenue from Contracts with Customers and Accounts Receivable and Note14— Fair Value Measurements to its audited Consolidated Financial Statements to comply with ASU 2016-13. The Company has also designed and implemented changes to certain processes and internal controls related to its adoption of ASU 2016-13. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”), which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The Company adoption of ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on the audited Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which removes the following exceptions for the Company to analyze in a given period; the exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation; the exception to accounting for basis differences when there are ownership changes in foreign investments; and the exception in interim periods income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this guidance will have on the audited Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto. In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (“ASU 2020-04”), which provides temporary optional guidance to companies impacted by the transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). The guidance provides certain expedients and exceptions to applying GAAP in order to lessen the potential accounting burden when contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR as a benchmark rate are modified. This guidance is effective upon issuance and expires on December 31, 2022. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the LIBOR transition and ASU 2020-04 on the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its audited Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.

Revenue from Contracts with Cus

Revenue from Contracts with Customers	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Revenue from Contracts with Customers	2. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS Revenue Recognition The Company derives revenue principally from the sale of advertising to national, regional and local businesses in Noovie® , our cinema advertising and entertainment pre-show seen on movie screens across the U.S., as well as on our LEN, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theater lobbies. We also sell digital online and mobile advertising through our Noovie Audience Accelerator product and across our suite of Noovie digital properties, including Noovie.com, Noovie Shuffle, Name That Movie and Noovie Arcade , in order to reach entertainment audiences beyond the theater. The Company also has a long-term agreement to exhibit the advertising of the founding members’ beverage suppliers. National and regional advertising, including advertising under the beverage concessionaire and PSA agreements, are sold on a CPM basis. The Company recognizes national and regional advertising over time as impressions (or theater attendees) are delivered. National advertising is also sold to content partners. The content partners provide the Company with original entertainment content segments, typically 90 Noovie pre-show and they make commitments to buy a portion of the Company’s advertising inventory at a specified CPM. The Company recognizes revenue for the content segments ratably over time as the content segments air. Local advertising is sold on a per-screen, per-week basis and to a lesser extent on a CPM basis. The Company recognizes local on-screen advertising revenue over the period in which the advertising airs as dictated by the underlying sales contracts. When sold separately, LEN advertising and lobby promotions are sold based on length and breadth of the promotion. The Company recognizes revenue derived from lobby network and promotions over time when the advertising is displayed in theater lobbies. The Company sells online and mobile advertising on a CPM basis. The Company recognizes revenue from branded entertainment websites and mobile applications over time as the online or mobile impressions are served. Customer contracts often include multiple advertising services to reach the moviegoer at multiple points during a theater experience. The Company considers each of these advertising services to represent distinct performance obligations of the contract and allocates a portion of the transaction price to each service based upon the standalone selling price of the service, when available. When standalone selling prices are not available or not applicable given the nature of the customer, the Company allocates the transaction price based upon all information that is reasonably available and maximizes the use of observable inputs. Methods utilized include the adjusted market and expected cost-plus margin approaches. The Company enters into barter transactions that exchange advertising program time for products and services used principally for selling and marketing activities. The Company records barter transactions at the estimated fair value of the products and services received. Revenue for advertising barter transactions is recognized when advertising is provided, and products and services received are charged to expense when used. Revenue from barter transactions for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 was $0.6 million and $1.8 million, respectively. Expense recorded from barter transactions for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 was $0.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively. This expense is included within “Selling and marketing costs” on the audited Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company makes contractual guarantees to deliver a specified number of impressions to view the customers’ advertising. If the contracted number of impressions are not delivered, the Company will run additional advertising to deliver the contracted impressions at a later date. The deferred portion of the revenue associated with undelivered impressions is referred to as a make-good provision. In rare cases, the Company will make a cash refund of the portion of the contract related to the undelivered impressions. Given the limited history of cash settlements of the make-good provision, the Company recognizes revenue on the guaranteed contracts as the impressions are delivered and no reserve for variable consideration is recorded. The Company defers the revenue associated with the make-good until the advertising airs to the theater attendance specified in the advertising contract. The make-good provision is recorded within “Accrued expenses” on the audited Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company had a make-good provision of $7.1 million and $8.7 million, respectively. The Company recognizes revenue as the performance obligation for the advertising services is satisfied. Invoices are generated following the processing of each revenue contract and payment is due from the customer within 30 days of the invoice date. Customers select to pay the invoice in full at the start of a contract or through equal monthly installments over the course of the contract. The Company records deferred revenue when cash payments are received, or invoices are issued, in advance of revenue being earned. Deferred revenue is classified as a current liability as it is expected to be earned within the next twelve months. The Company does not have any contracts with terms in excess of one year that are noncancelable as of December 31, 2020. Agreements with a duration less than one year are not included within this disclosure as the Company elected to use the practical expedient in ASC 606-10-50-14 for those contracts. In addition, other of the Company’s contracts longer than one year that are cancelable are not included within this disclosure. Disaggregation of Revenue The Company disaggregates revenue based upon the type of customer: national; local and regional; and beverage concessionaire. This method of disaggregation is in alignment with how revenue is reviewed by management and discussed with and historically disclosed to investors. The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019: Years ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 National and regional advertising revenue $ 66.7 $ 348.9 Local advertising revenue 17.5 66.9 Founding member advertising revenue from beverage concessionaire agreements 6.2 29.0 Total revenue $ 90.4 $ 444.8 Deferred Revenue and Unbilled Accounts Receivable The changes in deferred revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 were as follows (in millions): Year ended December 31, 2020 Balance at beginning of year $ (7.6) Performance obligations satisfied 7.6 New contract liabilities (5.1) Balance at end of year $ (5.1) Unbilled accounts receivable is classified as a current asset as it is expected to be billed within the next twelve months. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company had $2.5 million and $8.0 million, respectively, in unbilled accounts receivable, included within the accounts receivable balance. Practical Expedients and Exemptions The Company expenses sales commissions when incurred as the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within “Selling and marketing costs” in the audited Consolidated Statement of Income. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected length of one year or less.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	3. (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding plus the effect of potentially dilutive common stock options, restricted stock, and exchangeable NCM LLC common units using the treasury stock method. The components of basic and diluted loss per NCM, Inc. share are as follows: Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Net income attributable to NCM, Inc. (in millions) $ (65.4) $ 36.1 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 77,955,675 77,345,577 Add: Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, and exchangeable NCM LLC common membership units — 436,990 Diluted 77,955,675 77,782,567 Earnings per NCM, Inc. share: Basic $ (0.84) $ 0.47 Diluted $ (0.84) $ 0.46 The effect of the 83,903,921 and 81,450,384 exchangeable NCM LLC common membership units held by the founding members for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively, was excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares and earnings per NCM, Inc. share as it was antidilutive in that period. In addition, there were 5,193,200 and 2,568,418, stock options and non-vested (restricted) shares for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively, excluded from the calculation as they were antidilutive. The Company’s non-vested (restricted) shares do not meet the definition of a participating security as the dividends will not be paid if the shares do not vest.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Property and Equipment	4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT The following is a summary of property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation (in millions): As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Equipment, computer hardware and software $ 94.0 $ 93.5 Leasehold improvements 2.9 2.4 Less: Accumulated depreciation (77.7) (70.7) Subtotal 19.2 25.2 Construction in progress 8.3 8.0 Total property and equipment $ 27.5 $ 33.2

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Intangible Assets	5. INTANGIBLE ASSETS The Company’s intangible assets consist of contractual rights to provide its services within the theaters of the founding members and network affiliates. The Company records amortization using the straight-line method over the contractual life of the intangibles, corresponding to the term of the ESAs or the term of the contract with the network affiliate. The Company’s intangible assets with the founding members are recorded at the fair market value of NCM, Inc.’s publicly traded stock as of the date on which the common membership units were issued. The NCM LLC common membership units are fully convertible into NCM, Inc.’s common stock. The Company also records intangible assets for upfront fees paid to network affiliates upon commencement of a network affiliate agreement. Pursuant to ASC 350-10— Intangibles—Goodwill and Other, the Company’s intangible assets have a finite useful life and the Company amortizes the assets over the remaining useful life corresponding with the ESAs or the term of the contract with the network affiliate. The Company extended the useful life of the intangible asset for Cinemark and Regal in 2019 following the extension of the ESA term in conjunction with the 2019 ESA Amendments. There was no impact to the Payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement as the useful life of the intangible assets were not deemed to be extended for tax purposes and there were no changes made to the tax receivable agreements. The Company determined that recent adverse changes in macroeconomic trends, reduced cash flows as a consequence of the temporary closure of the theaters within the Company's network in response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, a decline in the fair value of NCM LLC’s debt and the further sustained decline in the market price of NCM, Inc.’s common stock constituted a triggering event for its intangible assets under Accounting Standards Certification No. 360, Impairment and Disposal of Long-Lived Assets during 2020. In its impairment analysis, management considered possible scenarios in a probability-weighted estimated future undiscounted cash flow analysis, including the potential of further delays in major motion picture releases, a recurrence of the temporary theater closures and other potential adverse impacts to NCM LLC’s founding members’ and affiliates’ financial liquidity related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The estimated future cash flows from the affiliate agreements and ESAs calculated within the probability-weighted analyses were in excess of the net book value of these intangible assets and no impairment charges were recorded in 2020. Such analysis required management to make estimates and assumptions based on historical data and consideration of future market conditions. Given the uncertainty inherent in any projection, heightened by the possibility of unforeseen additional effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, including potential adverse impacts to NCM LLC’s founding members’ and affiliates’ financial liquidity, actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions used, or conditions may change, which could result in impairment charges in the future. Common Unit Adjustments— In accordance with NCM LLC’s Common Unit Adjustment Agreement with its founding members, on an annual basis NCM LLC determines the amount of common membership units to be issued to or returned by the founding members based on theater additions or dispositions during the previous year. In addition, NCM LLC’s Common Unit Adjustment Agreement requires that a Common Unit Adjustment occur for a specific founding member if its acquisition or disposition of theaters, in a single transaction or cumulatively since the most recent Common Unit Adjustment, results in an attendance increase or decrease in excess of two percent of the annual total attendance at the prior adjustment date. Integration Payments and Other Encumbered Theater Payments— If an existing on-screen advertising agreement with an alternative provider is in place with respect to any acquired theaters, the founding members may elect to receive common membership units related to those encumbered theaters in connection with the Common Unit Adjustment. If the founding members make this election, then they are required to make payments on a quarterly basis in arrears in accordance with certain run-out provisions pursuant to the ESAs (“integration payments”). Because the Carmike Cinemas, Inc. (“Carmike”) theaters acquired by AMC are subject to an existing on-screen advertising agreement with an alternative provider, AMC will make integration payments to NCM LLC. The integration payments will continue until the earlier of (i) the date the theaters are transferred to NCM LLC’s network or (ii) the expiration of the ESA. In 2019, AMC and Cinemark also made integration payments to NCM LLC related to their respective acquisitions of theaters from Rave Cinemas. The advertising agreements with an alternative provider for these theaters ended during 2019 and the theaters were transferred to our network. Integration payments are no longer due related to these theaters. Integration payments are calculated based upon the advertising cash flow that the Company would have generated if it had exclusive access to sell advertising in the theaters with pre-existing advertising agreements. The ESA additionally entitles NCM LLC to payments related to the founding members’ on-screen advertising commitments under their beverage concessionaire agreements for encumbered theaters (“encumbered theater payments”). These payments are also accounted for as a reduction to the intangible asset. If common membership units are issued to a founding member for newly acquired theaters that are subject to an existing on-screen advertising agreement with an alternative provider, the amortization of the intangible asset commences after the existing agreement expires and NCM LLC can utilize the theaters for all of its services. The following is a summary of the Company’s intangible asset’s activity (in millions) during December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019: As of Additions (1) Disposals Amortization Integration and other encumbered theater payments (2) As of Gross carrying amount $ 842.6 $ 10.5 $ (0.9) $ — $ (1.4) $ 850.8 Accumulated amortization (198.9) — 0.5 (24.6) — (223.0) Total intangible assets, net $ 643.7 $ 10.5 $ (0.4) $ (24.6) $ (1.4) $ 627.8 As of Additions (3) Disposals Amortization Integration and other encumbered theater payments (2) As of Gross carrying amount $ 857.2 $ 8.9 $ (1.2) $ — $ (22.3) $ 842.6 Accumulated amortization (172.7) — 0.5 (26.7) — (198.9) Total intangible assets, net $ 684.5 $ 8.9 $ (0.7) $ (26.7) $ (22.3) $ 643.7 (1) During the first quarter of 2020, NCM LLC issued 3,022,959 common membership units to its founding members for the rights to exclusive access to the theater screens and attendees added, net of dispositions by the founding members to NCM LLC’s network during the 2019 fiscal year and NCM LLC recorded a net intangible asset of $10.5 million during the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the Common Unit Adjustment. (2) Carmike and Rave Cinemas had pre-existing advertising agreements for some of the theaters it owned prior to their acquisitions by AMC and Cinemark. As a result, AMC and Cinemark will make integration and other encumbered theater payments over the remaining term of those agreements. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, NCM LLC recorded a reduction to net intangible assets of $1.4 million and $22.3 million, respectively, related to integration and other encumbered theater payments due from AMC and Cinemark. During the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, AMC and Cinemark paid a total of $9.8 million and $21.7 million, respectively, related to integration and other encumbered theater payments. (3) During the first quarter of 2019, NCM LLC issued 1,044,665 common membership units to its founding members for the rights to exclusive access to the theater screens and attendees added, net of dispositions by the founding members to NCM LLC’s network during the 2018 fiscal year and NCM LLC recorded a net intangible asset of $7.6 million during the first quarter of 2019 as a result of the Common Unit Adjustment. During the third quarter of 2019, the Company capitalized $1.3 million of legal and professional costs incurred in conjunction with the 2019 ESA Amendments which extended the useful life of the intangible asset for Cinemark and Regal. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company’s intangible assets related to the founding members, net of accumulated amortization, was $608.1 million and $620.5 million, respectively, with weighted average remaining lives of 18.3 years and 20.0 years, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company’s intangible assets related to the network affiliates, net of accumulated amortization, was $19.7 million and $23.1 million, respectively, with weighted average remaining lives of 8.2 years and 5.4 years, respectively.

Accrued Expenses

Accrued Expenses	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses	6. ACCRUED EXPENSES The following is a summary of the Company’s accrued expenses (in millions): As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Make-good reserve $ 7.1 $ 8.7 Accrued interest 10.0 11.4 Other accrued expenses 1.9 2.0 Total accrued expenses $ 19.0 $ 22.1

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	7. INCOME TAXES The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various states. The Company’s tax returns for the calendar years 2017 through 2019 remain open to examination by the IRS in their entirety. With respect to state taxing jurisdictions, the Company’s tax returns for calendar years ended 2016 through 2019 are eligible for examination by various state revenue services. Tax Receivable Agreement —On the IPO date, NCM, Inc. and the founding members entered into a TRA. Under the terms of this agreement, NCM, Inc. will make cash payments to the founding members in amounts equal to 90% of NCM, Inc.’s actual tax benefit realized from the tax amortization of the intangible assets described below. For purposes of the TRA, cash savings in income and franchise tax will be computed by comparing NCM, Inc.’s actual income and franchise tax liability to the amount of such taxes that NCM, Inc. would have been required to pay had there been no increase in NCM, Inc.’s proportionate share of tax basis in NCM LLC’s tangible and intangible assets and had the TRA not been entered into. The TRA applies to NCM, Inc.’s taxable years up to and including the 30t h anniversary date of the offering. For the 2019 tax year, the Company paid the founding members $12.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2020 and expects to pay an additional $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2021. The Company paid the founding members $14.8 million in the year ended December 26, 2019 for the 2018 tax year. NCM, Inc. recorded a long-term payable to the founding members related to the TRA. The Company recorded a $152.7 million reduction to the ‘Payable to founding members under the tax receivable agreement’ during the year ended December 31, 2020. The reduction was primarily related to the portion of the payable related to 90% of the amortization of the expected benefits from the realization of the deferred tax assets deemed not more-likely-than-not to be realized as of December 31, 2020 of $151.9 million, as further discussed below. The reduction was also due to the decrease in the deferred tax rate during the year ended December 31, 2020. The reduction to the payable to founding members under the tax receivable agreement was recorded as a gain within “Non-operating income” within the Consolidated Statements of Income. Provision for Income Taxes —The Company has provided total income taxes, as follows (in millions) Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Current: Federal $ (0.1) $ — State (0.1) 0.3 Total current income tax (benefit)/expense (0.2) 0.3 Deferred: Federal 131.8 10.0 State 30.6 2.1 Total deferred income tax expense 162.4 12.1 Total income tax provision on Consolidated Statements of Income $ 162.2 $ 12.4 A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes as reported and the amount computed by multiplying income before taxes, less noncontrolling interest, by the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21.0% as of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 was (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Provision calculated at federal statutory income tax rate: Income before income taxes $ 7.5 $ 20.8 Less: Noncontrolling interests 12.8 (10.6) Income attributable to NCM, Inc. 20.3 10.2 Current year change to enacted federal and state rate (1.4) (0.7) State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit 3.5 1.7 NCM LLC income taxes (0.2) 0.2 Share-based compensation 0.5 0.3 Change in the valuation allowance (1) 139.0 0.9 NCM LLC membership unit issuance to NCM, Inc. 0.3 0.2 Executive compensation 0.6 0.4 Other (0.4) (0.8) Total income tax provision $ 162.2 $ 12.4 (1) Refer to the discussion of changes to the valuation allowance during the year ended December 31, 2020 within the Deferred Tax Assets table below Deferred Tax Assets —Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets consisted of the following (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Deferred tax assets: Investment in consolidated subsidiary NCM LLC (1) $ 156.0 $ 218.9 Share-based compensation 2.2 3.0 Net operating losses 52.1 19.2 Accrued bonus — 0.4 Other 1.7 2.2 Total gross deferred tax assets 212.0 243.7 Valuation allowance (1) (212.0) (81.6) Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance $ — $ 162.1 (1) The Company recognized a deferred tax asset in the amount of $156.0 million and $218.9 million as of 2020 and 2019, respectively, associated with the basis difference in our investment in NCM LLC. The Company evaluated its deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2020 and considered both positive and negative evidence in determining whether it is more likely than not that all or some portion of its deferred tax assets will be realized. The Company expects that it will generate a three-year cumulative pre-tax book loss during 2021 driven by the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Company’s operations in 2020, the effect of which is expected to continue into 2021. Given the associated weight assigned to this item as negative evidence within the Company’s analysis, the Company determined it is more-likely-than-not that the Company will not be able to realize certain of the Company’s deferred tax assets before they expire. The Company increased the valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets, generating $139.0 million of additional income tax expense in the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in the valuation allowance was partially offset by an $8.6 million reduction in the valuation allowance related to the investment in consolidated subsidiary NCM LLC deferred tax asset. Once the Company returns to a more normal operating level and emerges from a three-year cumulative pre-tax book loss position, part or all the valuation allowance is expected to reverse, resulting in an inverse impact to the payable to founding members under the tax receivable agreement which would increase to reflect future payments to the founding members at that time. Once the valuation allowance is reversed, the payable to founding members under the tax receivable agreement would be increased to reflect expected future payments to the founding members at that time.

Equity

Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Equity	8. EQUITY As of December 31, 2020, the Company has authorized capital stock of 175,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.01 per share. There were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding as of December 31, 2020. There were 78,040,818 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020. The holders of NCM, Inc. common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted for action by the NCM, Inc. stockholders. Holders of common stock are entitled to share equally, share for share, in declared dividends. The authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including share-based compensation, future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and exchange on a one-for-one basis under the founding members’ right to convert their NCM LLC membership units into Company common stock. NCM LLC’s founding members received all proceeds from NCM, Inc.’s IPO and related issuances of debt, except for amounts needed to pay out-of-pocket costs of the financings and other expenses. The ESAs with the founding members were amended and restated in conjunction with the IPO under which NCM LLC became the exclusive provider of advertising services to the founding members for a 30-year term. In conformity with accounting guidance of the SEC concerning monetary consideration paid to promoters, such as the founding members, in exchange for property conveyed by the promoters, the excess over predecessor cost was treated as a special distribution. Because the founding members had no cost basis in the ESAs, nearly all payments to the founding members with the proceeds of the IPO and related debt, have been accounted for as distributions. The distributions by NCM LLC to the founding members made at the date of the IPO resulted in a consolidated stockholders’ deficit. As a noncontrolling interest cannot be shown as an asset, the founding members’ interest in NCM LLC’s members equity is included in distributions in excess of paid in capital in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS Founding Member Transactions —In connection with NCM, Inc.’s IPO, the Company entered into several agreements to define and regulate the relationships among NCM, Inc., NCM LLC and the founding members which are outlined below. As AMC owns less than 5% of NCM LLC as of December 31, 2020, AMC is no longer a related party. AMC remains a party to the ESA, Common Unit Adjustment Agreement, TRA and certain other original agreements, and AMC will continue to participate in the annual Common Unit Adjustment, receive TRA payments, receive theater access fee payments, and make payments under the beverage concessionaire agreements, among other things. Further, AMC's ownership percentage does not impact future integration payments and other encumbered theater payments owed to NCM LLC by AMC. AMC is considered a related party through the date it fell below the 5% ownership threshold. The material agreements with the founding members are as follows: • ESAs. Under the ESAs, NCM LLC is the exclusive provider within the United States of advertising services in the founding members’ theaters (subject to pre-existing contractual obligations and other limited exceptions for the benefit of the founding members). The advertising services include the use of the DCN equipment required to deliver the on-screen advertising and other content included in the Noovie ® pre-show, use of the LEN and rights to sell and display certain lobby promotions. Further, 30 60 seconds Noovie pre-show is sold to the founding members to satisfy the founding members’ on-screen advertising commitments under their beverage concessionaire agreements. In consideration for access to the founding members’ theaters, theater patrons, the network equipment required to display on-screen and LEN video advertising and the use of theaters for lobby promotions, the founding members receive a monthly theater access fee. In conjunction with the 2019 ESA Amendments, NCM LLC also pays Cinemark and Regal incremental monthly theater access fees and, subject to NCM LLC's use of specified inventory, a revenue share in consideration for NCM LLC's access to certain on-screen advertising inventory after the advertised showtime of a feature film beginning November 1, 2019 and the underlying term of the ESAs were extended until 2041. The ESAs and 2019 ESA Amendments are considered leases with related parties under ASC 842. • Common Unit Adjustment Agreement. The common unit adjustment agreement provides a mechanism for increasing or decreasing the membership units held by the founding members based on the acquisition or construction of new theaters or sale of theaters that are operated by each founding member and included in NCM LLC’s network. • Tax Receivable Agreement. The TRA provides for the effective payment by NCM, Inc. to the founding members of 90% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax or franchise tax that is actually realized as a result of certain increases in NCM, Inc.’s proportionate share of tax basis in NCM LLC’s tangible and intangible assets resulting from the IPO and related transactions. • Software License Agreement. At the date of the Company’s IPO, NCM LLC was granted a perpetual, royalty-free license from the founding members to use certain proprietary software that existed at the time for the delivery of digital advertising and other content through the DCN to screens in the U.S. NCM LLC has made improvements to this software since the IPO date and NCM LLC owns those improvements, except for improvements that were developed jointly by NCM LLC and the founding members, if any. Following is a summary of the related party transactions between the Company and the founding members (in millions): Years Ended Included in the Consolidated Statements of Income: December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Revenue: Beverage concessionaire revenue (included in advertising revenue) (1) $ 4.9 $ 23.0 Operating expenses: Theater access fee and revenue share to founding members (2) 16.0 56.6 Selling and marketing costs (3) 0.1 0.4 Advertising operating costs (3) 0.6 0.1 Non-operating expenses: Interest income from notes receivable (included in interest income) (4) — 0.2 (1) For the full years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, Regal and Cinemark purchased 60 seconds 90 seconds 30 (2) Comprised of payments per theater attendee, payments per digital screen with respect to the founding member theaters included in the Company’s network, payments for access to higher quality digital cinema equipment and payments to Cinemark and Regal for their portion of the Platinum Spot revenue for the utilization of the theaters post-showtime in accordance with the 2019 ESA Amendments. (3) Includes purchase of movie tickets, concession products, rental of theater space primarily for marketing to NCM LLC’s advertising clients and other payments made to the founding members in the ordinary course of business. (4) On December 26, 2013, NCM LLC sold its Fathom Events business to a newly formed limited liability company (AC JV, LLC) owned 32% by each of the founding members and 4% by NCM LLC. In consideration for the sale, NCM LLC received a total of $25.0 million in promissory notes from its founding members (one-third or approximately $8.3 million from each founding member). The notes bore interest at a fixed rate of 5.0% per annum, compounded annually. Interest and principal payments were due annually in six equal installments commencing on the first anniversary of the closing and ended on December 26, 2019. As of Included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets: December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Common unit adjustments, net of amortization and integration payments (included in intangible assets) (1) $ 608.1 $ 620.5 Current payable to founding members under the TRA (2) 0.6 10.3 Long-term payable to founding members under the TRA (2) 23.7 133.5 Accounts payable (3) 0.6 — (1) Refer to Note 5— Intangible Assets for further information on common unit adjustments and integration payments. (2) The Company paid Cinemark and Regal $3.2 million and $5.8 million, respectively, in payments pursuant to the TRA during 2020 which was for the 2019 tax year. The Company paid Cinemark and Regal $3.7 million and $6.7 million, respectively, in payments pursuant to the TRA during 2019 which was for the 2018 tax year. (3) Includes other payables due to the founding members in the ordinary course of business. At the date of the Company’s IPO, NCM LLC was granted a perpetual, royalty-free license from the founding members to use certain proprietary software that existed at the time for the delivery of digital advertising and other content through the DCN to screens in the U.S. NCM LLC has made improvements to this software since the IPO date and NCM LLC owns those improvements, except for improvements that were developed jointly by NCM LLC and the founding members, if any. Pursuant to the terms of the NCM LLC Operating Agreement in place since the completion of the IPO, NCM LLC is required to make mandatory distributions on a proportionate basis to its members of available cash, as defined in the NCM LLC Operating Agreement, on a quarterly basis in arrears. Mandatory distributions for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 are as shown within the table below (in millions). Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Cinemark $ 2.1 $ 37.2 Regal 2.2 39.1 Total founding members 4.3 76.3 NCM, Inc. 4.1 72.5 Total $ 8.4 $ 148.8 The mandatory distributions in the table above related to the first quarter of 2020 and were paid in the second quarter of 2020. Due to the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Company’s operations, the mandatory distributions of available cash by NCM LLC to its related party founding members and NCM, Inc. for the second quarter of 2020, third quarter of 2020 and fourth quarter of 2020 were calculated as negative $85.2 million (including negative $21.6 million for Cinemark, negative $22.4 million for Regal and negative $41.2 million for NCM, Inc.). Under the terms of the NCM LLC Operating Agreement, these negative amounts will be netted against future positive available cash distributions after the Extended Covenant Holiday Period, contingent upon the Company's compliance with the covenants outlined within the Credit Agreement Second Amendment defined within Note 17— Subsequent Events and in accordance with the NCM LLC Operating Agreement. Amounts due to (from) founding members, net as of December 31, 2020 were comprised of the following (in millions): Cinemark Regal Total Theater access fees and revenue share, net of beverage revenues $ 0.6 $ 0.9 $ 1.5 Cost and other reimbursement (0.1) (0.1) (0.2) Total amounts due to founding members, net $ 0.5 $ 0.8 $ 1.3 Amounts due to founding members, net as of December 26, 2019 were comprised of the following (in millions): Cinemark Regal Total Theater access fees, net of beverage revenues $ 2.0 $ 2.5 $ 4.5 Distributions payable to founding members 15.8 16.6 32.4 Integration payments due from founding members (0.1) — (0.1) Total amounts due to founding members, net $ 17.7 $ 19.1 $ 36.8 Common Unit Membership Redemption — The NCM LLC Operating Agreement provides a redemption right of the founding members to exchange common membership units of NCM LLC for shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis, or at the Company’s option, a cash payment based on the three Network Affiliate Transactions —NCM LLC paid a network affiliate owned by a family member of a director on the Company's Board of Directors $0.4 million and $0.6 million in circuit share payments during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively. AC JV, LLC Transactions —In December 2013, NCM LLC sold its Fathom Events business to a newly formed limited liability company, AC JV, LLC, owned 32% by each of the founding members and 4% by NCM LLC. The Company accounts for its investment in AC JV, LLC under the equity method of accounting in accordance with ASC 323-30, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323-30”) because AC JV, LLC is a limited liability company with the characteristics of a limited partnership and ASC 323-30 requires the use of equity method accounting unless the Company’s interest is so minor that it would have virtually no influence over partnership operating and financial policies. Although NCM LLC does not have a representative on AC JV, LLC’s Board of Directors or any voting, consent or blocking rights with respect to the governance or operations of AC JV, LLC, the Company concluded that its interest was more than minor under the accounting guidance. NCM LLC’s investment in AC JV, LLC was $0.7 million and $0.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, NCM LLC received cash distributions from AC JV, LLC of $0.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively. NCM LLC recorded equity in (losses) earnings for AC JV, LLC of $(0.2) million and $0.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively, which are included in “Other non-operating income” in the audited Consolidated Statements of Income.

Borrowings

Borrowings	90 Months Ended
	Nov. 07, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Borrowings	10. BORROWINGS The following table summarizes NCM LLC’s total outstanding debt as of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 and the significant terms of its borrowing arrangements: Outstanding Balance as of Borrowings ($ in millions) December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Maturity Date Interest Rate Revolving credit facility $ 167.0 $ 39.0 June 20, 2023 (1) Term loans 263.3 266.6 June 20, 2025 (1) Senior unsecured notes due 2026 230.0 230.0 August 15, 2026 5.750% Senior secured notes due 2028 400.0 400.0 April 15, 2028 5.875% Total borrowings 1,060.3 935.6 Less: Debt issuance costs related to term loans and senior notes (8.0) (9.0) Total borrowings, net 1,052.3 926.6 Less: current portion of debt (2.7) (2.7) Carrying value of long-term debt $ 1,049.6 $ 923.9 (1) The interest rates on the revolving credit facility and term loan are described below. Senior Secured Credit Facility —On June 20, 2018, NCM LLC entered into a credit agreement to replace NCM LLC's previous senior secured credit facility, dated as of February 13, 2007, as amended (the “previous facility”). Consistent with the structure of the previous facility, the new agreement consists of a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility. As of December 31, 2020, NCM LLC’s new senior secured credit facility consisted of a $175.0 million revolving credit facility and a $263.3 million term loan. The obligations under the senior secured credit facility are secured by a lien on substantially all of the assets of NCM LLC. On April 30, 2020, NCM LLC amended the Credit Agreement to allow for the automatic waiver of any non-compliance with its consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio and consolidated total leverage ratio financial covenants occurring from the quarter ending June 25, 2020 until and including the quarter ending July 1, 2021. The Credit Agreement Amendment requires that, until the fiscal quarter ending July 1, 2021, NCM LLC must not permit the sum of unrestricted cash on hand at NCM LLC and availability under its revolving credit facility to be less than $55.0 million. Further, NCM LLC can make available cash distributions to its members (AMC, Cinemark, Regal and NCM, Inc.) during the Covenant Holiday Period only if trailing 12-month consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) equals or exceeds $277.0 million and outstanding loans under the revolving credit facility are equal to or less than $39.0 million. NCM LLC can make available cash distributions to its members outside of the Covenant Holiday Period so long as NCM LLC’s consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio is equal to or less than 5.00 to 1.00 and no default or event of default under the Credit Agreement has occurred and is continuing. NCM LLC entered into an additional amendment to its Credit Agreement on March 8, 2021 which further extends the restrictions on available cash distributions established within the Credit Agreement Amendment. Refer to Note 17— Subsequent Events for more details. Revolving Credit Facility —The revolving credit facility portion of NCM LLC’s total borrowings is available, subject to certain conditions, for general corporate purposes of NCM LLC in the ordinary course of business and for other transactions permitted under the senior secured credit facility, and a portion is available for letters of credit. As of December 31, 2020, NCM LLC’s total availability under the $175.0 million revolving credit facility was $4.4 million, net of $167.0 million outstanding and $3.6 million letters of credit. The unused line fee is 0.50% per annum which is consistent with the previous facility. Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at NCM LLC’s option of either the LIBOR index plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% or the base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.25%. The margin changed to the aforementioned range from a fixed margin of LIBOR index plus 2.00% or the base rate plus 1.00%. The applicable margin for the revolving credit facility is determined quarterly and is subject to adjustment based upon a consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio for NCM LLC (the ratio of secured funded debt less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of up to $100.0 million, divided by Adjusted EBITDA for debt purposes, defined as NCM LLC's net income before depreciation and amortization expense adjusted to also exclude non-cash share-based compensation costs for NCM LLC plus integration payments received). The revolving credit facility will mature on June 20, 2023. The weighted-average interest rate on the outstanding balance on the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2020 was 3.25%. Term Loans —The interest rate on the term loans is a rate chosen at NCM LLC’s option of either the LIBOR index plus 3.00% or the base rate plus 2.00%. The rate increased from LIBOR index plus 2.75% or the base rate plus 1.75%. The weighted-average interest rate on the term loans as of December 31, 2020 was 4.00%. The term loan amortizes at a rate equal to 1.00% annually, to be paid in equal quarterly installments. As of December 31, 2020, NCM LLC has paid a principal of $6.7 million, reducing the outstanding balance to $263.3 million. The term loan will mature on June 20, 2025. The senior secured credit facility contains a number of covenants and financial ratio requirements, including (i) a consolidated net total leverage ratio covenant of 6.25 times for each for each quarterly period and (ii) with respect to the revolving credit facility, maintaining a consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio of equal to or less than 4.50 times on a quarterly basis for each quarterly period in which a balance is outstanding on the revolving credit facility. In addition, NCM LLC is permitted to make quarterly dividend payments and other restricted payments with its available cash as long as NCM LLC's consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio (after giving effect to any such payment) is below 5.50 times and no default or event of has occurred and continues to occur under the senior secured credit facility. As of December 31, 2020, NCM LLC was in compliance with the requirements of the Credit Agreement Amendment described above and the noncompliance with the financial covenants was automatically waived. Refer to Note 17— Subsequent Events for details of the extension of the restrictions on available cash distributions established within the Credit Agreement Second Amendment. Senior Secured Notes due 2022 —On April 27, 2012, NCM LLC completed a private placement of $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Secured Notes (the “Notes due 2022”). The Notes due 2022 pay interest semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, which commenced October 15, 2012. The Notes due 2022 were issued at 100% of the face amount thereof and are senior secured obligations of NCM LLC, rank the same as NCM LLC’s senior secured credit facility, subject to certain exceptions, and share in the same collateral that secures NCM LLC’s obligations under the senior secured credit facility. On November 7, 2019, NCM LLC redeemed the entire $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of NCM LLC’s existing Notes due 2022. The redemption price for the Notes due 2022 was 101.000% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest. As a result of the redemption, NCM LLC wrote-off approximately $1.9 million in unamortized debt issuance costs and paid a redemption premium of approximately $4.0 million, which are reflected in the loss on early retirement of debt, net on the Consolidated Statements of Income during the year ended December 26, 2019. Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 —On August 19, 2016, NCM LLC completed a private placement of $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.750% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2026 (the “Notes due 2026”) for which the registered exchange offering was completed on November 8, 2016. The Notes due 2026 pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, which commenced on February 15, 2017. The Notes due 2026 were issued at 100% of the face amount thereof and are the senior unsecured obligations of NCM LLC and will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future secured debt, including the Notes due 2028, its senior secured credit facility and any future asset backed loan facility. The Notes due 2026 will rank equally in right of payment with all of NCM LLC’s existing and future senior indebtedness, including the Notes due 2028, NCM LLC’s existing senior secured credit facility, any future asset backed loan facility, in each case, without giving effect to collateral arrangements. The Notes due 2026 will be effectively subordinated to all liabilities of any subsidiaries that NCM LLC may form or acquire in the future, unless those subsidiaries become guarantors of the Notes due 2026. NCM LLC does not currently have any subsidiaries, and the Notes due 2026 will not be guaranteed by any subsidiaries that NCM LLC may form or acquire in the future except in very limited circumstances. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, NCM LLC repurchased and canceled a total of $0.0 million and $5.0 million of the Notes due 2026, respectively, reducing the principal amount to $230.0 million as of December 31, 2020. This repurchase was treated as a partial debt extinguishment and resulted in the realization of a non-operating gain, net of written off debt issuance costs, of $0.0 million and $0.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively. NCM LLC may redeem all or any portion of the Notes due 2026 prior to August 15, 2021, at once or over time, at 100% of the principal amount plus the applicable make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. NCM LLC may redeem all or any portion of the Notes due 2026, at once or over time, on or after August 15, 2021 at specified redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. In addition, at any time prior to August 15, 2019, NCM LLC may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes due 2026 from the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 105.750% of the principal amount of the Notes due 2026 redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to the redemption date. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the indenture), NCM LLC will be required to make an offer to each holder of the Notes due 2026 to repurchase all of such holder’s Notes due 2026 for a cash payment equal to 101.000% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes due 2026 repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. The indenture contains covenants that, among other things, restrict NCM LLC’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries, if any, to: (1) incur additional debt; (2) make distributions or make certain other restricted payments; (3) make investments; (4) incur liens; (5) sell assets or merge with or into other companies; and (6) enter into transactions with affiliates. All of these restrictive covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. In particular, NCM LLC has the ability to distribute all of its quarterly available cash as a restricted payment or as an investment, if it meets a minimum net senior secured leverage ratio. NCM LLC was in compliance with these non-maintenance covenants as of December 31, 2020. Senior Secured Notes due 2028 —On October 8, 2019, NCM LLC completed a private offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2028 (the “Notes due 2028”) to eligible purchasers. The Notes due 2028 will mature on April 15, 2028. Interest on the Notes due 2028 accrues at a rate of 5.875% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2020. NCM LLC may redeem all or any portion of the Notes due 2028 prior to April 15, 2023, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus the applicable premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. NCM LLC may redeem all or any portion of the Notes due 2028, on or after April 15, 2023, at specified redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. In addition, at any time prior to April 15, 2023, NCM LLC may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes due 2028 from the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 105.875% of the principal amount of the Notes due 2028 redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, provided that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes due 2028 remains outstanding after each such redemption and the redemption occurs within 90 days after the closing of such applicable equity offering. The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, restrict NCM LLC’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries, if any, to: (1) incur additional debt; (2) make distributions or make certain other restricted payments; (3) make certain investments; (4) incur certain liens; (5) sell assets or merge with or into other companies; and (6) enter into transactions with affiliates. All of these restrictive covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. In particular, NCM LLC may distribute all of its quarterly available cash as a restricted payment or as an investment, provided that NCM LLC satisfies a minimum net senior secured leverage ratio. Future Maturities of Borrowings – The scheduled annual maturities on the Senior Secured Credit Facility, Notes due 2026 and Notes due 2028 as of December 31, 2020 are as follows (in millions): Year Amount 2021 $ 2.7 2022 2.7 2023 169.7 2024 2.7 2025 252.5 Thereafter 630.0 Total $ 1,060.3

Share-Based Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	11. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION The NCM, Inc. 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”) was approved by NCM, Inc.'s stockholders on April 28, 2020 and approved 7,500,000 additional shares of common stock available for issuance or delivery under the 2020 Plan. The Company began issuing shares under the 2020 Plan in the second quarter of 2020. The 2020 Plan replaced NCM, Inc.’s 2016 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), which replaced the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2007 Plan”). The 2020 Plan also includes 2,148,857 shares related to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2016 Plan that remained available for grant as of the effective date of the 2020 Plan and the number of shares subject to awards granted under the 2007 Plan as of the effective date of the 2020 Plan, which can become available for grant again upon expiration, termination, cancellation or forfeiture of the original award. As of December 31, 2020, 6,969,753 shares remain available for future grants (assuming 100% achievement of targets on performance-based restricted stock). The types of awards that may be granted under the 2020 Plan include stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock based awards. Certain option and share awards provide for accelerated vesting if there is a change in control, as defined in the 2016 Plan and 2020 Plan. Upon vesting of the restricted stock awards or exercise of options, NCM LLC will issue common membership units to the Company equal to the number of shares of the Company’s common stock represented by such awards. Compensation Cost —The Company recognized $2.2 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively, of share-based compensation expense within “Network costs”, “Selling and marketing costs” and “Administrative and other costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Income as shown in the table below (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Share-based compensation costs included in network costs $ 0.2 $ 0.4 Share-based compensation costs included in selling and marketing costs 0.8 1.4 Share-based compensation costs included in administrative and other costs 1.2 3.7 Total share-based compensation costs $ 2.2 $ 5.5 During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, $0.2 million and $0.2 million was capitalized, respectively, in a corresponding manner to the capitalization of employee’s salaries for capitalized labor. The income tax benefit recognized in the income statement for share-based compensation was approximately $0.3 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, there was $0.5 million unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options, which will be recognized over a remaining period of 2.1 years. As of December 31, 2020, unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock and restricted stock units was approximately $4.5 million, which will be recognized over a weighted average remaining period of 1.6 years. Stock Options —The Company granted stock options during 2019 and 2020 after not granting options since 2012. Stock options awarded in 2020 were granted with an exercise price equal to the closing market price of NCM, Inc. common stock on the date the Company’s Board of Directors approved the grant. The stock options awarded in 2019 contained a market condition as the options were granted with an exercise price in excess of the closing market price of NCM, Inc. common stock on the date the Company’s Board of Directors approved the grant. All options have either 10-year or 15-year contractual terms. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing valuation model that uses the assumptions noted in the table below. Expected volatilities are based on implied volatilities from traded options on the Company’s stock, historical volatility of the Company’s stock, and other factors. The Company uses historical data to estimate option exercise and employee termination within the valuation model. The expected term of options granted was developed based on historical and peer company data and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected term of the options granted during 2019 was adjusted to include the Company's cost of equity in order to incorporate the impact of the option's market condition and simulate a lattice model. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The following assumptions were used in the valuation of the options for the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019: Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Expected term (in years) 6.0 6.8 Risk free interest rate 0.3 % 1.8 % Expected volatility 53.9 % 36.6 % Dividend yield 10.3 % 8.9 % A summary of option award activity under the 2007, 2016 and 2020 Plans as of December 31, 2020, and changes during the year then ended are presented below: Options Weighted Weighted Aggregate Outstanding as of December 26, 2019 2,550,098 $ 14.30 3.2 $ — Granted 500,606 $ 2.71 $ — Forfeited (97,761) $ 16.33 $ — Expired (430,621) $ 16.00 $ — Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 2,522,322 $ 11.63 4.3 $ — Exercisable as of December 31, 2020 1,588,250 $ 15.43 1.4 $ — Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2020 2,495,775 $ 11.70 4.2 $ — Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units —Under the non-vested stock program, common stock of the Company may be granted at no cost to officers, independent directors and employees, subject to requisite service and/or financial performance targets. As such restrictions lapse, the award vests in that proportion. The participants are entitled to dividend equivalents and to vote their respective shares (in the case of restricted stock), although the sale and transfer of such shares is prohibited and the shares are subject to forfeiture during the restricted period. Additionally, the accrued dividend equivalents are subject to forfeiture during the restricted period should the underlying shares not vest. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, accrued dividend equivalents totaled $0.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively and during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company paid $0.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively, for dividend equivalents upon vesting of the restricted stock and restricted stock units. The Company has issued time-based restricted stock and restricted stock units to its employees which generally vest over a three three A summary of restricted stock award and restricted stock unit activity as of December 31, 2020, and changes during the year then ended are presented below: Number of Weighted Non-vested balance as of December 26, 2019 1,787,218 $ 8.68 Granted 1,736,723 $ 4.13 Vested (1) (612,619) $ 9.31 Forfeited (240,444) $ 13.12 Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2020 2,670,878 $ 5.18 (1) Includes 140,787 vested shares that were withheld to cover tax obligations and were subsequently canceled. The above table reflects performance-based restricted stock granted at 100% achievement of performance conditions and as such does not reflect the maximum or minimum number of shares of performance-based restricted stock contingently issuable. An additional 438,255 shares of restricted stock could be issued if the performance criteria maximums are met. As of December 31, 2020, the total number of restricted stock and restricted stock units that are ultimately expected to vest, after consideration of expected forfeitures and current projections of estimated vesting of performance-based restricted stock is 1,823,001 shares.

Employee Benefit Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Legal Actions —The Company is subject to claims and legal actions in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes such claims will not have a material effect, individually and in aggregate, on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Operating Commitments-Facilities —The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-2 and subsequent amendments, Leases (Topic 842) (together “ASC 842”) effective December 28, 2018. The Company has entered into operating lease agreements for its corporate headquarters and other regional offices. The Company has right-of-use (“ROU”) assets of $20.5 million and short-term and long-term lease liabilities of $1.8 million and $22.6 million, respectively, on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 for all material leases with terms longer than twelve months. These balances are included within “Other assets”, “Other current liabilities” and “Other liabilities”, respectively, on the audited Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company has options on certain of these facilities to extend the lease or to terminate part or all of the leased space prior to the lease end date. Certain termination fees would be due upon exercise of the early termination options as outlined within the underlying agreements. None of these options were considered reasonably certain of exercise and thus have not been recognized as part of the ROU assets and lease liabilities. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a weighted average remaining lease term of 9.1 years on these leases. The Company has also entered into certain short-term leases with a term of less than one year. These leases are not included within the Company’s ROU assets or lease liabilities due to the Company’s election of the practical expedient in ASC 842-20-25-2 for short-term leases. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company recognized the following components of total lease cost (in millions). These costs are presented within “Selling and marketing costs” and “Administrative and other costs” within the audited Consolidated Statements of Income depending upon the nature of the use of the facility. Year ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Operating lease cost $ 3.5 $ 3.2 Short-term lease cost — 0.2 Variable lease cost 0.5 0.5 Total lease cost $ 4.0 $ 3.9 The Company made lease payments for the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 of $3.7 million and $3.3 million, respectively. These payments are included within cash flows from operating activities within the audited Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2020 were as follows (in millions): Year Minimum Lease Payments 2021 $ 3.7 2022 3.8 2023 3.8 2024 3.8 2025 3.7 Thereafter 15.2 Total 34.0 Less: Imputed interest on future lease payments (9.6) Total lease liability as of December 31, 2020 per the Consolidated Balance Sheet $ 24.4 When measuring the ROU assets and lease liabilities recorded, the Company utilized its incremental borrowing rate in order to determine the present value of the lease payments as the leases do not provide an implicit rate. The Company used the rate of interest that it would have paid to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term for an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s weighted average annual discount rate used to establish the ROU assets and lease liabilities was 7.34%. Operating Commitments - ESAs and Affiliate Agreements —The Company has entered into long-term ESAs with the founding members and multi-year agreements with certain network affiliates, or third-party theater circuits. The ESAs and network affiliate agreements grant NCM LLC exclusive rights in their theaters to sell advertising, subject to limited exceptions. The Company recognizes intangible assets upon issuance of membership units to the founding members in accordance with NCM LLC’s Common Unit Adjustment Agreement and upfront cash payments to the affiliates for the contractual rights to provide the Company’s services within their theaters as further discussed within Note 5— Intangible Assets . These ESAs and network affiliate agreements are considered leases under ASC 842 once the asset is identified and the period of control is determined upon the scheduling of the showtimes by the exhibitors, typically one week prior to the showtime. As such, the leases are considered short-term in nature, specifically less than one month. Within ASC 842, leases with terms of less than one month are exempt from the majority of the accounting and disclosure requirements, including disclosure of short-term lease expense. No ROU assets or lease liabilities were recognized for these agreements and no change to the balance sheet presentation of the intangible assets was necessary. However, the amortization of these intangible assets is considered lease expense and was therefore, reclassified in the current period from “Depreciation and amortization expense” to “Amortization of intangibles recorded for network theater screen leases” within the audited Consolidated Statement of Income. In consideration for NCM LLC’s access to the founding members’ theater attendees for on-screen advertising and use of lobbies and other space within the founding members’ theaters for the LEN and lobby promotions, the founding members receive a monthly theater access fee under the ESAs. The theater access fee is composed of a fixed payment per patron, a fixed payment per digital screen (connected to the DCN) and a fee for access to higher quality digital cinema equipment. The payment per theater patron increases by 8% every five years, with the next increase taking effect in fiscal year 2022. The payment per digital screen and for digital cinema equipment increases annually by 5%. The theater access fee paid in the aggregate to all founding members cannot be less than 12% of NCM LLC’s aggregate advertising revenue (as defined in the ESA), or it will be adjusted upward to reach this minimum payment. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company had no liabilities recorded for the minimum payment, as the theater access fee was in excess of the minimum. Following the 2019 ESA Amendments, Cinemark and Regal receive an additional monthly theater access fee beginning November 1, 2019 in consideration for NCM LLC’s access to certain on-screen advertising inventory after the advertised showtime of a feature film. These fees are also based upon a fixed payment per patron beginning at (i) $0.025 per patron on November 1, 2019, (ii) $0.0375 per patron beginning on November 1, 2020, (iii) $0.05 per patron beginning on November 1, 2021, (iv) $0.052 per patron beginning on November 1, 2022 and (v) increase 8% every five years beginning November 1, 2027. Additionally, following the 2019 ESA Amendments, beginning on November 1, 2019, NCM LLC is entitled to display an additional single unit that is either 30 or 60 seconds of the Noovie® pre-show in the trailer position directly prior to the one or two trailers preceding the feature film (the “Platinum Spot”). In consideration for the utilization of the theaters for the Platinum Spots, Cinemark and Regal is entitled to receive 25% of all revenue generated for the actual display of Platinum Spots in their applicable theaters, subject to a specified minimum. If NCM LLC runs advertising in more than one concurrent advertisers’ Platinum Spot for any portion of the network over a period of time, then NCM LLC will be required to satisfy a minimum average CPM for that period of time. The Company does not owe the founding members any theater access fees or any Platinum Spot revenue share when the theaters are not displaying the Company's pre-show or when the Company does not have access to the theaters. As such, the Company did not and will not owe these fees for the period of time the founding members' theaters were temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and future fees will be reduced if attendance remains lower than historical levels. The digital screen fee is calculated based upon average screens in use during each month. No digital screen fees were or will be incurred for the period of time the founding member's theaters were temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and future fees will be reduced for months where screens are in use for only part of the month. one twenty

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	14. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Non-Recurring Measurements —Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances. These assets include long-lived assets, intangible assets, cost and equity method investments, notes receivable and borrowings. Long-Lived Assets, Intangible Assets, Other Investments and Notes Receivable —As described in Note 1— Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies , the Company regularly reviews long-lived assets (primarily property, plant and equipment), intangible assets, investments accounted for under the cost or equity method and notes receivable for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be fully recoverable. When the estimated fair value is determined to be lower than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment charge is recorded to write the asset down to its estimated fair value. Other investments consisted of the following (in millions): As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Investment in AC JV, LLC (1) $ 0.7 $ 0.9 Other investments (2) 0.1 0.1 Total $ 0.8 $ 1.0 (1) Refer to Note 9— Related Party Transactions . (2) The Company received equity securities in privately held companies as consideration for a portion of advertising contracts. The equity securities were accounted for under the cost method and represent an ownership of less than 20%. The Company does not exert significant influence on these companies’ operating or financial activities. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company recorded impairment charges of $0.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, on certain of its investments due to a significant deterioration in the business prospects of the investee or new information regarding the fair value of the investee, which brought the total remaining value of the respective impaired investments to $0.0 million as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, no other observable price changes or impairments have been recorded as a result of the Company’s qualitative assessment of identified events or changes in the circumstances of the remaining investments. The investment in AC JV was initially valued using comparative market multiples. The other investments were recorded based upon the fair value of the services provided in exchange for the investment. Refer to Note 1— Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for more details. As the inputs to the determination of fair value are based upon non-identical assets and use significant unobservable inputs, they have been classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Borrowings —The carrying amount of the revolving credit facility is considered a reasonable estimate of fair value due to its floating-rate terms. The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments where carrying values do not approximate fair value are as follows (in millions): As of December 31, 2020 As of December 26, 2019 Carrying Value Fair Value (1) Carrying Value Fair Value (1) Term Loans $ 263.3 $ 217.2 $ 266.6 $ 266.9 Senior Notes due 2026 $ 230.0 $ 160.7 $ 230.0 $ 226.2 Senior Notes due 2028 $ 400.0 $ 337.5 $ 400.0 $ 426.7 (1) The Company has estimated the fair value on an average of at least two non-binding broker quotes and the Company’s analysis. If the Company were to measure the borrowings in the above table at fair value on the balance sheet they would be classified as Level 2. Recurring Measurements —The fair values of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis pursuant to ASC 820-10 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures are as follows (in millions): Fair Value Measurements at Fair Value As of Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs ASSETS: Cash equivalents (1) $ 52.8 $ 52.8 $ — $ — Short-term marketable securities (2) 0.3 — 0.3 — Long-term marketable securities (2) 1.2 — 1.2 — Total assets $ 54.3 $ 52.8 $ 1.5 $ — Fair Value Measurements at Fair Value As of Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs ASSETS: Cash equivalents (1) $ 28.8 $ 16.8 $ 12.0 $ — Short-term marketable securities (2) 17.5 — 17.5 — Long-term marketable securities (2) 7.5 — 7.5 — Total assets $ 53.8 $ 16.8 $ 37.0 $ — (1) Cash Equivalents —The Company’s cash equivalents are carried at estimated fair value. Cash equivalents consist of money market accounts which the Company has classified as Level 1 given the active market for these accounts and commercial paper with original maturities of three months or less, which are classified as Level 2 and are valued as described below. (2) Short-Term and Long-Term Marketable Securities —The carrying amount and fair value of the marketable securities are equivalent since the Company accounts for these instruments at fair value. The Company’s government agency bonds, commercial paper and certificates of deposit are valued using third party broker quotes. The value of the Company’s government agency bonds and municipal bonds are derived from quoted market information. The inputs in the valuation are classified as Level 1 if there is an active market for these securities; however, if an active market does not exist, the inputs are recorded at a lower level in the fair value hierarchy. The value of commercial paper and certificates of deposit is derived from pricing models using inputs based upon market information, including contractual terms, market prices and yield curves. The inputs to the valuation pricing models are observable in the market, and as such are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Original cost of short term marketable securities is based on the specific identification method. As of December 31, 2020, there was $1.3 million of available-for-sale debt securities in unrealized loss positions without an allowance for credit losses. The Company has not recorded an allowance for credit losses for the marketable securities balance as of December 31, 2020 given the immaterial difference between the amortized cost basis and the aggregate fair value of the Company's securities. The amortized cost basis, aggregate fair value and maturities of the marketable securities the Company held as of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 are as follows: As of December 31, 2020 Amortized Aggregate Maturities (1) (in years) MARKETABLE SECURITIES: Short-term certificates of deposit $ 0.3 $ 0.3 0.6 Total short-term marketable securities 0.3 0.3 Long-term certificates of deposit 1.3 1.2 2.8 Total long-term marketable securities 1.3 1.2 Total marketable securities $ 1.6 $ 1.5 As of December 26, 2019 Amortized Aggregate Maturities (1) (in years) MARKETABLE SECURITIES: Short-term U.S. government agency bonds $ 3.5 $ 3.5 0.4 Short-term certificates of deposit 0.9 0.9 0.8 Short-term municipal bonds 1.2 1.2 0.5 Short-term commercial paper: Financial 8.0 7.9 0.3 Industrial 4.0 4.0 0.2 Total short-term marketable securities 17.6 17.5 Long-term U.S. government agency bonds 4.5 4.5 2.2 Long-term certificates of deposit 3.0 3.0 3.6 Total long-term marketable securities 7.5 7.5 Total marketable securities $ 25.1 $ 25.0 (1) Maturities — Securities available for sale include obligations with various contractual maturity dates some of which are greater than one year. The Company considers the securities to be liquid and convertible to cash within 30 days.

Valuation and Qualifying Accoun

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	15. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts and the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 were as follows (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS: Balance at beginning of period $ 6.2 $ 6.0 Adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 (1) (3.2) — Provision for bad debt 0.3 1.2 Write-offs, net (1.0) (1.0) Balance at end of period $ 2.3 $ 6.2 Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 VALUATION ALLOWANCE ON DEFERRED TAX ASSETS: Balance at beginning of period $ 81.6 $ 80.1 Valuation allowance added (2) 130.4 1.5 Valuation allowance reversed — — Balance at end of period $ 212.0 $ 81.6 (1) Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on December 27, 2019, the Company recorded a $3.2 million cumulative-effect adjustment to the allowance for doubtful accounts and retained earnings related to the change in methodology surrounding the historical losses utilized in the calculation of the allowance for credit losses related to trade and unbilled accounts receivable reducing the allowance to $3.0 million as of the adoption date.

Quarterly Financial Data

Quarterly Financial Data	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Data	16. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) The following represents selected information from the Company’s unaudited quarterly Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 (in millions, except per share data): 2020 First Second Third Fourth Revenue $ 64.7 $ 4.0 $ 6.0 $ 15.7 Operating expenses 59.8 27.8 27.3 36.5 Operating income (loss) 4.9 (23.8) (21.3) (20.8) Consolidated net loss (8.2) (33.4) (30.9) (53.8) Net loss attributable to NCM, Inc. (3.7) (13.8) (12.7) (35.2) Loss per NCM, Inc. share, basic (1) (0.05) (0.18) (0.16) (0.45) Loss per NCM, Inc. share, diluted (1) (0.05) (0.18) (0.16) (0.45) 2019 First Second Third Fourth Revenue $ 76.9 $ 110.2 $ 110.5 $ 147.2 Operating expenses 66.0 72.5 70.5 74.5 Operating income 10.9 37.7 40.0 72.7 Consolidated net (loss) income (2.6) 21.0 22.8 45.5 Net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. (1.1) 8.9 9.2 19.1 (Loss) Earnings per NCM, Inc. share, basic (1) (0.01) 0.11 0.12 0.25 (Loss) Earnings per NCM, Inc. share, diluted (1) (0.01) 0.11 0.12 0.24 (1) Earnings per share in each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during that quarter while earnings per share for the full year is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

Subsequent Event

Subsequent Event	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Event	17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On March 8, 2021, NCM LLC entered into an additional amendment to its Credit Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2018. Among other things, the Credit Agreement Second Amendment provides for: (i) certain modifications to the negative covenants; (ii) a waiver of non-compliance with the consolidated net total leverage and consolidated net senior secured leverage financial covenants through the quarter ended June 30, 2022; (iii) the consolidated net total leverage ratio and consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio financial covenants to be set to 6.75 to 1.00 and 5.50 to 1.00, respectively, for the quarter ending on or about September 29, 2022, and (iv) with respect to NCM LLC’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, a waiver of the requirement to deliver such financial statements without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception. The Credit Agreement Second Amendment also: (i) grants security interests in certain assets of NCM LLC and other potential loan parties that are not currently pledged to the lenders and (ii) increases the applicable margin of the existing term loans and revolving loans issued under the Credit Agreement in an amount equal to 1.00%. Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement Second Amendment, NCM LLC is restricted from making available cash distributions until after NCM LLC delivers a compliance certificate for the quarter ending on or about September 29, 2022, and, thereafter, NCM LLC may only make available cash distributions if: (i) no default or event of default under the Credit Agreement has occurred and is continuing; (ii) the senior secured financial covenant leverage ratio is equal to or less than 4.00 to 1.00; and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding revolving loans under the Credit Agreement is $39.0 million or less. In addition, pursuant to the Credit Agreement Second Amendment, NCM LLC will incur new incremental term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million, the proceeds of which will be used for general corporate purposes. The New Incremental Loans will have substantially similar terms to the existing term loans (after giving effect the Credit Agreement Second Amendment), except that the New Incremental Loans will: (i) have a cash interest rate of LIBOR plus 8.00%, (ii) have a maturity of December 20, 2024, and (iii) be subject to prepayment premiums if the Borrower prepays the New Incremental Loans before maturity. In connection with the grant of the Additional Collateral to the lenders under the Credit Agreement, NCM LLC concurrently entered into an amendment to the Security Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2019 made by NCM LLC, as issuer, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent, relating to that certain Indenture, dated as of October 8, 2019, between NCM LLC, as issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to NCM LLC’s Notes due 2028. This amendment grants a security interest in the Additional Collateral for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Notes. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern was subject to uncertainty as the Company did not expect to meet certain of its financial covenants within one year following the date of issuance. As a result of the additional funding received and the extension of the automatic waiver of any non-compliance with its consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio and consolidated total leverage ratio financial covenants occurring through and including the quarter ending July 1, 2022 discussed above, substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern no longer exists. On March 8, 2021, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share (approximately $3.9 million) on each share of the Company’s common stock (not including outstanding restricted stock and restricted stock units which will accrue dividends until the shares vest) to stockholders of record on March 22, 2021 to be paid on April 5, 2021.

Basis of Presentation and Sum_2

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The Company has prepared its Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes of NCM, Inc. in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made. The Company’s business is seasonal and for this and other reasons operating results for interim periods may not be indicative of the Company’s full year results or future performance. As a result of the various related-party agreements discussed in Note 9— Related Party Transactions , the operating results as presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that might have occurred if all agreements were with non-related third parties. Advertising is the principal business activity of the Company and is the Company’s only reportable segment under the requirements of ASC 280 – Segment Reporting.
Estimates	Estimates —The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include those related to the reserve for uncollectible accounts receivable, share-based compensation and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Accounting Period	Accounting Period —The Company has a 52-week or 53-week fiscal year ending on the first Thursday after December 25. Fiscal year 2019 contained 52 weeks and 2020 contained 53 weeks. Throughout this document, the fiscal years are referred to as set forth below: Fiscal Year Ended Reference in December 31, 2020 2020 December 26, 2019 2019
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition —The Company derives revenue principally from the sale of advertising to national, regional and local businesses in Noovie® , our cinema advertising and entertainment pre-show seen on movie screens across the U.S., as well as on our LEN, a series of strategically-placed screens located in movie theater lobbies, as well as other forms of advertising and promotions in theater lobbies. We also sell digital online and mobile advertising through our Noovie Audience Accelerator product and across our suite of Noovie digital properties, including Noovie.com, Noovie Shuffle, Name That Movie and Noovie Arcade , in order to reach entertainment audiences beyond the theater. The Company also has a long-term agreement to exhibit the advertising of the founding members’ beverage suppliers. The Company considers the terms of each arrangement to determine the appropriate accounting treatment as more fully discussed in Note 2— Revenue from Contracts with Customers .
Operating Costs	Operating Costs —Advertising fulfillment-related operating costs primarily include personnel and other costs related to advertising fulfillment, payments due to unaffiliated theater circuits under the network affiliate agreements, and to a lesser extent, production costs of non-digital advertising. Payments to the founding members of a theater access fee is comprised of a payment per theater attendee, a payment for post-showtime advertising, a payment per digital screen and a payment per digital cinema projector equipped in the theaters, all of which escalate over time, and payment for revenue share of the Platinum Spot. Refer to Item 7—“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this document.
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents—All highly liquid debt instruments and investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less are classified as cash equivalents and are considered available-for-sale securities.  There are cash balances in a bank in excess of the federally insured limits or in the form of a money market demand account with a major financial institution
Marketable Securities	Marketable Securities —The Company’s marketable securities are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair value. The fair value of substantially all securities is determined by quoted market information and pricing models using inputs based upon market information, including contractual terms, market prices and yield curves. The estimated fair value of securities for which there are no quoted market prices is based on similar types of securities that are traded in the market.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers	Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers —The risk of credit loss related to the Company's trade receivables and unbilled receivables balances is accounted for through the allowance for doubtful accounts, a contra asset account which reduces the net receivables balance. The allowance for doubtful accounts balance is determined by pooling the Company's receivables with similar risk characteristics, specifically by type of customer (national or local/ regional) and then age of receivable, and applying historical write off percentages to these pools in order to determine the amount of expected credit losses as of the balance sheet date. National receivables are with large advertising agencies with strong reputations in the advertising industry and clients with stable financial positions and good credit ratings, represent larger receivables balances per customer and have significantly lower historical and expected credit loss patterns. Local and regional receivables are with smaller companies sometimes with less credit history and represent smaller receivable balances per customer and higher historical and expected credit loss patterns. The Company has smaller contracts with many local clients that are not individually significant. The Company also considers current economic conditions and trends to determine whether adjustments to historical loss rates are necessary. The Company increased the expected rate of default related to local and regional customers within the calculation of the allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2020, as compared to December 26, 2019, given the expected adverse impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on certain businesses, in particular, categories of small businesses (e.g. restaurants, travel, etc.) which the Company expects could lead to an increased rate of default. The Company also reserves for specific receivable balances that it expects to write off based on known concerns regarding the financial health of the customer. Receivables are written off when management determines amounts are uncollectible. As of December 31, 2020 there was one advertising agency group through which the Company sources national advertising revenue that accounted for 10.1% of the Company’s outstanding gross receivable balance. As of December 26, 2019 there was no advertising agency group through which the Company sources national advertising revenue that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s outstanding gross receivable balance. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company had one customer that accounted for 14.6% of the Company's revenue. During the year ended December 26, 2019, there were no customers that accounted for more than 10% of revenue.
Long-lived Assets	Long-lived Assets —Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation or amortization. Generally, the equipment associated with the digital network of the founding member theaters is owned by the founding members, while the equipment associated with network affiliate theaters is owned by the Company. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized, while replacements, maintenance, and repairs that do not improve or extend the lives of the respective assets are expensed as incurred. The Company records depreciation using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Equipment 4-10 years Computer hardware and software 3-5 years Leasehold improvements Lesser of lease term or asset life Software and website development costs developed or obtained for internal use are accounted for in accordance with ASC 350— Internal Use Software and ASC 350– Website Development Costs . The subtopics require the capitalization of certain costs incurred in developing or obtaining software for internal use. Software costs related primarily to the Company’s inventory management systems, digital products, digital network distribution system (DCS), enterprise resource planning system and website development costs, which are included in equipment, and are depreciated over three Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract as of September 28, 2018. As of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 the Company had a net book value of $3.0 million and $0.6 million of capitalized implementation costs for CCAs, respectively. These costs primarily relate to the Company's new hosted end-to-end order management and scheduling system which was implemented in January 2021. Since December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 were prior to the implementation of the system, the gross value of the capitalized implementation costs were equal to the net book value. These costs will be amortized to “Administrative and other costs” within the audited Consolidated Statements of Income over the life of the hosting arrangement beginning at implementation. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, the Company recorded $1.9 million and $3.6 million in research and development expense, respectively. The Company assesses impairment of long-lived assets pursuant with ASC 360 – Property, Plant and Equipment.
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets —Intangible assets consist of contractual rights to provide its services within the theaters of the founding members and network affiliates and are stated at cost, net of accumulated amortization. The Company records amortization using the straight-line method over the contractual life of the intangibles, corresponding to the term of the ESAs or the term of the contract with the network affiliate. Intangible assets are tested for impairment at least annually during the fourth quarter or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be fully recoverable. In its impairment testing, the Company estimates the fair value of its ESAs or network affiliate agreements by determining the estimated future cash flows associated with the ESAs or network affiliate agreements. If after determining that gross cash flows are insufficient to recover the asset, the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value, the intangible asset is written down to its estimated fair value. Significant judgment is involved in estimating long-term cash flow forecasts. Refer to Note 5— Intangible Assets to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of the Company's consideration of the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic within the impairment testing performed over the Company's intangible assets during the year
Amounts Due to/from Founding Members	Amounts Due to/from Founding Members —Amounts due to/from founding members include amounts due for the theater access fees and revenue share, offset by a receivable for advertising time purchased by the founding members on behalf of their beverage concessionaire, plus any amounts outstanding under other contractually obligated payments. Payments to or received from the founding members against outstanding balances are made monthly. Available cash distributions are made quarterly.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes —Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which differences are expected to be recovered or settled pursuant to the provisions of ASC 740 – Income Taxes . The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance if it is deemed more likely than not that all or a portion of its deferred income tax assets will not be realized, which will be assessed on an on-going basis. Only the portion of deferred income tax assets deemed more likely than not to be realized are considered within the calculation of the payable to the founding members under the TRA which is equal to 90% of the Company’s actual tax benefit realized from the tax amortization of the basis difference for qualifying deferred income tax assets. Refer to Note 7— Income Taxes to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for discussion of changes within the Company's valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets during the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, income tax rules and regulations are subject to interpretation and the application of those rules and regulations require judgment by the Company and may be challenged by the taxation authorities. The Company follows ASC 740-10-25, which requires the use of a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosures regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. Only tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are recognized. In addition, income tax rules and regulations are subject to interpretation and the application of those rules and regulations require judgment by the Company and may be challenged by the taxation authorities. The Company follows ASC 740-10-25, which requires the use of a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosures regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. Only tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold are recognized.
Debt Issuance Costs	Debt Issuance Costs —In relation to the issuance of outstanding debt discussed in Note 10— Borrowings
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based Compensation —During 2020 and 2019, the Company issued stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units. Restricted stock and restricted stock units vest upon the achievement of Company three on management’s financial projections and the probability of achieving the projections, which require considerable judgment. A cumulative adjustment is recorded to share-based compensation expense in periods that management changes its estimate of the number of shares expected to vest. Ultimately, the Company adjusts the expense recognized to reflect the actual vested shares following the resolution of the performance conditions. Dividends are accrued when declared on unvested restricted stock that is expected to vest and are only paid with respect to shares that actually vest. Compensation cost of stock options is based on the estimated grant date fair value using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires that the Company make estimates of various factors. Under the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718 Compensation – Stock Compensation, the Company recognizes share-based compensation net of an estimated forfeiture rate, and therefore only recognizes compensation cost for those shares expected to vest over the requisite service period of the award. Refer to Note 11— Share-Based Compensation for more information.
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements —Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is estimated by applying the following hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value into three levels and bases the categorization within the hierarchy upon the lowest level of input that is available and significant to the fair value measurement: Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 – Inputs that are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimate of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
Consolidation	Consolidation —NCM, Inc. consolidates the accounts of NCM LLC under the provisions of ASC 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”). Under Accounting Standards Update 2015-2, Consolidation (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-2”), a limited partnership is a variable interest entity unless a simple majority or lower threshold of all limited partners unrelated to the general partner have kick-out or participating rights. The non-managing members of NCM LLC do not have dissolution rights or removal rights. NCM, Inc. has evaluated the provisions of the NCM LLC membership agreement and has concluded that the various rights of the non-managing members are not substantive participating rights under ASC 810, as they do not limit NCM, Inc.’s ability to make decisions in the ordinary course of business. As such, the Company concluded that NCM LLC is a variable interest entity and determined that NCM, Inc. should consolidate the accounts of NCM LLC pursuant to ASU 2015-2 because 1) it has the power to direct the activities of NCM LLC in its role as managing member and 2) NCM, Inc. has the obligation to absorb losses of, or the right to receive benefits from, NCM LLC that could potentially be significant provided its 48.0% ownership in NCM LLC. Prior to the prospective adoption of ASU 2015-2 in the first quarter of 2016, the Company reached the same conclusion under previous guidance in ASC 810 to consolidate NCM LLC. The following table presents the changes in NCM, Inc.’s equity resulting from net income attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers to or from noncontrolling interests (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. $ (65.4) $ 36.1 NCM LLC equity issued for purchase of intangible asset 5.0 3.7 Income tax and other impacts of NCM LLC ownership changes (3.9) (0.7) NCM, Inc. investment in NCM LLC — (1.7) Issuance of shares to founding members — 1.7 Change from net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers from $ (64.3) $ 39.1
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements During the first quarter of 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Statements (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires a financial asset (or group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial asset(s) to present the net carrying value at the amount expected to be collected on the financial asset. Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on December 27, 2019, the Company recorded a $3.2 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings related to the change in methodology surrounding the historical losses utilized in the calculation of the allowance for credit losses related to trade and unbilled accounts receivable reducing the allowance to $3.0 million as of the adoption date. The Company also recorded a corresponding $0.4 million reduction to the corresponding deferred tax asset with the offset also recorded to retained earnings. The other impacts upon adoption were immaterial to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company has incorporated additional disclosures in Note 1— The Company , Note 2— Revenue from Contracts with Customers and Accounts Receivable and Note14— Fair Value Measurements to its audited Consolidated Financial Statements to comply with ASU 2016-13. The Company has also designed and implemented changes to certain processes and internal controls related to its adoption of ASU 2016-13. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In December 2019, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which removes the following exceptions for the Company to analyze in a given period; the exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation; the exception to accounting for basis differences when there are ownership changes in foreign investments; and the exception in interim periods income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that adopting this guidance will have on the audited Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto. In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (“ASU 2020-04”), which provides temporary optional guidance to companies impacted by the transition away from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). The guidance provides certain expedients and exceptions to applying GAAP in order to lessen the potential accounting burden when contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR as a benchmark rate are modified. This guidance is effective upon issuance and expires on December 31, 2022. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the LIBOR transition and ASU 2020-04 on the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its audited Consolidated Financial Statements or notes thereto.

Basis of Presentation and Sum_3

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of Fiscal Year Ends	Fiscal Year Ended Reference in December 31, 2020 2020 December 26, 2019 2019
Schedule of Receivables	As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Trade accounts $ 16.6 $ 176.0 Other 1.9 1.0 Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts (2.3) (6.2) Total $ 16.2 $ 170.8
Schedule of Useful Lives	Equipment 4-10 years Computer hardware and software 3-5 years Leasehold improvements Lesser of lease term or asset life
Changes in Debt Issuance Costs	Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Beginning balance $ 12.9 $ 12.8 Debt issuance costs 0.9 4.6 Amortization of debt issuance costs (2.5) (2.6) Write-off of debt issuance costs — (1.9) Ending balance $ 11.3 $ 12.9
Changes in Equity	Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. $ (65.4) $ 36.1 NCM LLC equity issued for purchase of intangible asset 5.0 3.7 Income tax and other impacts of NCM LLC ownership changes (3.9) (0.7) NCM, Inc. investment in NCM LLC — (1.7) Issuance of shares to founding members — 1.7 Change from net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers from $ (64.3) $ 39.1
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Corresponding Footnotes for Prior Periods Adjusted from Amounts Previously Reported to Reflect Correction of Error	.

Revenue from Contracts with C_2

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Disaggregation of Revenue	The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019: Years ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 National and regional advertising revenue $ 66.7 $ 348.9 Local advertising revenue 17.5 66.9 Founding member advertising revenue from beverage concessionaire agreements 6.2 29.0 Total revenue $ 90.4 $ 444.8
Contract with Customer, Asset and Liability	Year ended December 31, 2020 Balance at beginning of year $ (7.6) Performance obligations satisfied 7.6 New contract liabilities (5.1) Balance at end of year $ (5.1)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Net income attributable to NCM, Inc. (in millions) $ (65.4) $ 36.1 Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 77,955,675 77,345,577 Add: Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, and exchangeable NCM LLC common membership units — 436,990 Diluted 77,955,675 77,782,567 Earnings per NCM, Inc. share: Basic $ (0.84) $ 0.47 Diluted $ (0.84) $ 0.46

Property and Equipment (Tables)

Property and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Summary of Property and Equipment	As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Equipment, computer hardware and software $ 94.0 $ 93.5 Leasehold improvements 2.9 2.4 Less: Accumulated depreciation (77.7) (70.7) Subtotal 19.2 25.2 Construction in progress 8.3 8.0 Total property and equipment $ 27.5 $ 33.2

Intangible Assets (Tables)

Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Intangible Asset's Activity	The following is a summary of the Company’s intangible asset’s activity (in millions) during December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019: As of Additions (1) Disposals Amortization Integration and other encumbered theater payments (2) As of Gross carrying amount $ 842.6 $ 10.5 $ (0.9) $ — $ (1.4) $ 850.8 Accumulated amortization (198.9) — 0.5 (24.6) — (223.0) Total intangible assets, net $ 643.7 $ 10.5 $ (0.4) $ (24.6) $ (1.4) $ 627.8 As of Additions (3) Disposals Amortization Integration and other encumbered theater payments (2) As of Gross carrying amount $ 857.2 $ 8.9 $ (1.2) $ — $ (22.3) $ 842.6 Accumulated amortization (172.7) — 0.5 (26.7) — (198.9) Total intangible assets, net $ 684.5 $ 8.9 $ (0.7) $ (26.7) $ (22.3) $ 643.7 (1) During the first quarter of 2020, NCM LLC issued 3,022,959 common membership units to its founding members for the rights to exclusive access to the theater screens and attendees added, net of dispositions by the founding members to NCM LLC’s network during the 2019 fiscal year and NCM LLC recorded a net intangible asset of $10.5 million during the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the Common Unit Adjustment. (2) Carmike and Rave Cinemas had pre-existing advertising agreements for some of the theaters it owned prior to their acquisitions by AMC and Cinemark. As a result, AMC and Cinemark will make integration and other encumbered theater payments over the remaining term of those agreements. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, NCM LLC recorded a reduction to net intangible assets of $1.4 million and $22.3 million, respectively, related to integration and other encumbered theater payments due from AMC and Cinemark. During the year ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, AMC and Cinemark paid a total of $9.8 million and $21.7 million, respectively, related to integration and other encumbered theater payments. (3) During the first quarter of 2019, NCM LLC issued 1,044,665 common membership units to its founding members for the rights to exclusive access to the theater screens and attendees added, net of dispositions by the founding members to NCM LLC’s network during the 2018 fiscal year and NCM LLC recorded a net intangible asset of $7.6 million during the first quarter of 2019 as a result of the Common Unit Adjustment.
Summary of Estimated Aggregate Amortization Expense	The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding years is as follows (in millions): Year Amortization 2021 $ 24.2 2022 23.8 2023 23.8 2024 23.8 2025 23.8

Accrued Expenses (Tables)

Accrued Expenses (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Schedule Of Accrued Expenses	As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Make-good reserve $ 7.1 $ 8.7 Accrued interest 10.0 11.4 Other accrued expenses 1.9 2.0 Total accrued expenses $ 19.0 $ 22.1

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense	Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Current: Federal $ (0.1) $ — State (0.1) 0.3 Total current income tax (benefit)/expense (0.2) 0.3 Deferred: Federal 131.8 10.0 State 30.6 2.1 Total deferred income tax expense 162.4 12.1 Total income tax provision on Consolidated Statements of Income $ 162.2 $ 12.4
Schedule of Reconciliation of Provision for Income Taxes	Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Provision calculated at federal statutory income tax rate: Income before income taxes $ 7.5 $ 20.8 Less: Noncontrolling interests 12.8 (10.6) Income attributable to NCM, Inc. 20.3 10.2 Current year change to enacted federal and state rate (1.4) (0.7) State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit 3.5 1.7 NCM LLC income taxes (0.2) 0.2 Share-based compensation 0.5 0.3 Change in the valuation allowance (1) 139.0 0.9 NCM LLC membership unit issuance to NCM, Inc. 0.3 0.2 Executive compensation 0.6 0.4 Other (0.4) (0.8) Total income tax provision $ 162.2 $ 12.4 (1) Refer to the discussion of changes to the valuation allowance during the year ended December 31, 2020 within the Deferred Tax Assets table below
Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets	Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Deferred tax assets: Investment in consolidated subsidiary NCM LLC (1) $ 156.0 $ 218.9 Share-based compensation 2.2 3.0 Net operating losses 52.1 19.2 Accrued bonus — 0.4 Other 1.7 2.2 Total gross deferred tax assets 212.0 243.7 Valuation allowance (1) (212.0) (81.6) Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance $ — $ 162.1
Schedule of Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Interest and Penalties

Related Party Transactions (Tab

Related Party Transactions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Schedule of Mandatory Distributions to Members	Mandatory distributions for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 are as shown within the table below (in millions). Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Cinemark $ 2.1 $ 37.2 Regal 2.2 39.1 Total founding members 4.3 76.3 NCM, Inc. 4.1 72.5 Total $ 8.4 $ 148.8
Schedule of Amounts Due to Founding Members	Amounts due to (from) founding members, net as of December 31, 2020 were comprised of the following (in millions): Cinemark Regal Total Theater access fees and revenue share, net of beverage revenues $ 0.6 $ 0.9 $ 1.5 Cost and other reimbursement (0.1) (0.1) (0.2) Total amounts due to founding members, net $ 0.5 $ 0.8 $ 1.3 Amounts due to founding members, net as of December 26, 2019 were comprised of the following (in millions): Cinemark Regal Total Theater access fees, net of beverage revenues $ 2.0 $ 2.5 $ 4.5 Distributions payable to founding members 15.8 16.6 32.4 Integration payments due from founding members (0.1) — (0.1) Total amounts due to founding members, net $ 17.7 $ 19.1 $ 36.8

Borrowings (Tables)

Borrowings (Tables) - NCM, LLC.	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Schedule of Outstanding Debt	The following table summarizes NCM LLC’s total outstanding debt as of December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 and the significant terms of its borrowing arrangements: Outstanding Balance as of Borrowings ($ in millions) December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Maturity Date Interest Rate Revolving credit facility $ 167.0 $ 39.0 June 20, 2023 (1) Term loans 263.3 266.6 June 20, 2025 (1) Senior unsecured notes due 2026 230.0 230.0 August 15, 2026 5.750% Senior secured notes due 2028 400.0 400.0 April 15, 2028 5.875% Total borrowings 1,060.3 935.6 Less: Debt issuance costs related to term loans and senior notes (8.0) (9.0) Total borrowings, net 1,052.3 926.6 Less: current portion of debt (2.7) (2.7) Carrying value of long-term debt $ 1,049.6 $ 923.9 (1) The interest rates on the revolving credit facility and term loan are described below.
Schedule of Annual Maturities on Credit Facility and Senior Notes	Year Amount 2021 $ 2.7 2022 2.7 2023 169.7 2024 2.7 2025 252.5 Thereafter 630.0 Total $ 1,060.3

Share-Based Compensation (Table

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Schedule of Share-Based Compensation Costs	The Company recognized $2.2 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, respectively, of share-based compensation expense within “Network costs”, “Selling and marketing costs” and “Administrative and other costs” in the Consolidated Statements of Income as shown in the table below (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Share-based compensation costs included in network costs $ 0.2 $ 0.4 Share-based compensation costs included in selling and marketing costs 0.8 1.4 Share-based compensation costs included in administrative and other costs 1.2 3.7 Total share-based compensation costs $ 2.2 $ 5.5
2007 Plan [Member]
Summary of Option Award Activity	A summary of option award activity under the 2007, 2016 and 2020 Plans as of December 31, 2020, and changes during the year then ended are presented below: Options Weighted Weighted Aggregate Outstanding as of December 26, 2019 2,550,098 $ 14.30 3.2 $ — Granted 500,606 $ 2.71 $ — Forfeited (97,761) $ 16.33 $ — Expired (430,621) $ 16.00 $ — Outstanding as of December 31, 2020 2,522,322 $ 11.63 4.3 $ — Exercisable as of December 31, 2020 1,588,250 $ 15.43 1.4 $ — Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2020 2,495,775 $ 11.70 4.2 $ —
2007 Plan and 2016 Plan [Member]
Summary of Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units	A summary of restricted stock award and restricted stock unit activity as of December 31, 2020, and changes during the year then ended are presented below: Number of Weighted Non-vested balance as of December 26, 2019 1,787,218 $ 8.68 Granted 1,736,723 $ 4.13 Vested (1) (612,619) $ 9.31 Forfeited (240,444) $ 13.12 Non-vested balance as of December 31, 2020 2,670,878 $ 5.18 (1) Includes 140,787 vested shares that were withheld to cover tax obligations and were subsequently canceled.

Commitments and Contingencies (

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancelable Operating Leases	Year Minimum Lease Payments 2021 $ 3.7 2022 3.8 2023 3.8 2024 3.8 2025 3.7 Thereafter 15.2 Total 34.0 Less: Imputed interest on future lease payments (9.6) Total lease liability as of December 31, 2020 per the Consolidated Balance Sheet $ 24.4

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule of Other Assets	As of December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 Investment in AC JV, LLC (1) $ 0.7 $ 0.9 Other investments (2) 0.1 0.1 Total $ 0.8 $ 1.0 (1) Refer to Note 9— Related Party Transactions . (2) The Company received equity securities in privately held companies as consideration for a portion of advertising contracts. The equity securities were accounted for under the cost method and represent an ownership of less than 20%. The Company does not exert significant influence on these companies’ operating or financial activities.
Estimated Fair Values of Company's Financial Instruments	As of December 31, 2020 As of December 26, 2019 Carrying Value Fair Value (1) Carrying Value Fair Value (1) Term Loans $ 263.3 $ 217.2 $ 266.6 $ 266.9 Senior Notes due 2026 $ 230.0 $ 160.7 $ 230.0 $ 226.2 Senior Notes due 2028 $ 400.0 $ 337.5 $ 400.0 $ 426.7 (1) The Company has estimated the fair value on an average of at least two non-binding broker quotes and the Company’s analysis. If the Company were to measure the borrowings in the above table at fair value on the balance sheet they would be classified as Level 2.
Fair Values of the Company's Assets	Fair Value Measurements at Fair Value As of Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs ASSETS: Cash equivalents (1) $ 52.8 $ 52.8 $ — $ — Short-term marketable securities (2) 0.3 — 0.3 — Long-term marketable securities (2) 1.2 — 1.2 — Total assets $ 54.3 $ 52.8 $ 1.5 $ — Fair Value Measurements at Fair Value As of Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets Significant Other Observable Inputs Significant Unobservable Inputs ASSETS: Cash equivalents (1) $ 28.8 $ 16.8 $ 12.0 $ — Short-term marketable securities (2) 17.5 — 17.5 — Long-term marketable securities (2) 7.5 — 7.5 — Total assets $ 53.8 $ 16.8 $ 37.0 $ — (1) Cash Equivalents —The Company’s cash equivalents are carried at estimated fair value. Cash equivalents consist of money market accounts which the Company has classified as Level 1 given the active market for these accounts and (2) Short-Term and Long-Term Marketable Securities —The carrying amount and fair value of the marketable securities are equivalent since the Company accounts for these instruments at fair value. The Company’s government agency bonds, commercial paper and certificates of deposit are valued using third party broker quotes. The value of the Company’s government agency bonds and municipal bonds are derived from quoted market information. The inputs in the valuation are classified as Level 1 if there is an active market for these securities; however, if an active market does not exist, the inputs are recorded at a lower level in the fair value hierarchy. The value of commercial paper and certificates of deposit is derived from pricing models using inputs based upon market information, including contractual terms, market prices and yield curves. The inputs to the valuation pricing models are observable in the market, and as such are generally classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Original cost of short term marketable securities is based on
Schedule of Marketable Securities	As of December 31, 2020 Amortized Aggregate Maturities (1) (in years) MARKETABLE SECURITIES: Short-term certificates of deposit $ 0.3 $ 0.3 0.6 Total short-term marketable securities 0.3 0.3 Long-term certificates of deposit 1.3 1.2 2.8 Total long-term marketable securities 1.3 1.2 Total marketable securities $ 1.6 $ 1.5 As of December 26, 2019 Amortized Aggregate Maturities (1) (in years) MARKETABLE SECURITIES: Short-term U.S. government agency bonds $ 3.5 $ 3.5 0.4 Short-term certificates of deposit 0.9 0.9 0.8 Short-term municipal bonds 1.2 1.2 0.5 Short-term commercial paper: Financial 8.0 7.9 0.3 Industrial 4.0 4.0 0.2 Total short-term marketable securities 17.6 17.5 Long-term U.S. government agency bonds 4.5 4.5 2.2 Long-term certificates of deposit 3.0 3.0 3.6 Total long-term marketable securities 7.5 7.5 Total marketable securities $ 25.1 $ 25.0 (1) Maturities — Securities available for sale include obligations with various contractual maturity dates some of which are greater than one year. The Company considers the securities to be liquid and convertible to cash within 30 days.

Valuation and Qualifying Acco_2

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts and the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 were as follows (in millions): Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS: Balance at beginning of period $ 6.2 $ 6.0 Adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 (1) (3.2) — Provision for bad debt 0.3 1.2 Write-offs, net (1.0) (1.0) Balance at end of period $ 2.3 $ 6.2 Years Ended December 31, 2020 December 26, 2019 VALUATION ALLOWANCE ON DEFERRED TAX ASSETS: Balance at beginning of period $ 81.6 $ 80.1 Valuation allowance added (2) 130.4 1.5 Valuation allowance reversed — — Balance at end of period $ 212.0 $ 81.6 (1) Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on December 27, 2019, the Company recorded a $3.2 million cumulative-effect adjustment to the allowance for doubtful accounts and retained earnings related to the change in methodology surrounding the historical losses utilized in the calculation of the allowance for credit losses related to trade and unbilled accounts receivable reducing the allowance to $3.0 million as of the adoption date.

Quarterly Financial Data (Table

Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data	The following represents selected information from the Company’s unaudited quarterly Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019 (in millions, except per share data): 2020 First Second Third Fourth Revenue $ 64.7 $ 4.0 $ 6.0 $ 15.7 Operating expenses 59.8 27.8 27.3 36.5 Operating income (loss) 4.9 (23.8) (21.3) (20.8) Consolidated net loss (8.2) (33.4) (30.9) (53.8) Net loss attributable to NCM, Inc. (3.7) (13.8) (12.7) (35.2) Loss per NCM, Inc. share, basic (1) (0.05) (0.18) (0.16) (0.45) Loss per NCM, Inc. share, diluted (1) (0.05) (0.18) (0.16) (0.45) 2019 First Second Third Fourth Revenue $ 76.9 $ 110.2 $ 110.5 $ 147.2 Operating expenses 66.0 72.5 70.5 74.5 Operating income 10.9 37.7 40.0 72.7 Consolidated net (loss) income (2.6) 21.0 22.8 45.5 Net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. (1.1) 8.9 9.2 19.1 (Loss) Earnings per NCM, Inc. share, basic (1) (0.01) 0.11 0.12 0.25 (Loss) Earnings per NCM, Inc. share, diluted (1) (0.01) 0.11 0.12 0.24 (1) Earnings per share in each quarter is computed using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during that quarter while earnings per share for the full year is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year.

Basis of Presentation and Sum_4

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended			48 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)customershares	Dec. 26, 2019USD ($)customeritem	Dec. 27, 2018USD ($)customer	Feb. 13, 2041	Dec. 27, 2019USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset	$ 20,500,000
Operating Lease, Liability, Current	$ 1,800,000
Agreement With Founding Members, Remaining Term	18 years 8 months 12 days
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	$ 0.2	$ 0.1
Advertising Cost, Policy, Expensed Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]	0.2	1.2
Membership units exchangeable into common stock ratio	100.00%
Net book value	$ 27,500,000	$ 33,200,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Costs Incured to Renew o Extend, Gross	3,000,000	600,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Cost Incurred to Renew or Extend	0	1,300,000
Research and development expense	1,900,000	3,600,000
Deferred financing costs	$ 11,300,000	$ 12,900,000	$ 12,800,000
Percentage open of theaters in network	40.50%
Concentration of credit risk as a percentage of accounts receivable	10.10%	0.00%
Write Off of Equipment	$ 200,000	$ 200,000
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 1,700,000	0
2019 ESA Amendment Year Extension				4 years
Uncollectible Receivables [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13		3,000,000			$ 3,000,000
change in deferred tax asset [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13					400,000
Retained Earnings RAAP Adjustment 2016-13 [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13					$ 3,200,000
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Share-based compensation, vesting period	3 years
Software And Development Costs
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net book value	$ 10,400,000	14,100,000
Depreciation expense	$ 8,100,000	$ 8,400,000
Accounts Receivable | Credit Concentration Risk
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of advertising agency groups contributing to more than 10% of outstanding gross receivable balance | item		0
Sales Revenue, Net | Customer Concentration Risk
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of customers contributing to more than 10% of revenue | customer	1	0	0
Percentage Of Customer Contributing To More Than Ten Percent Of Revenue	14.60%
NCM, LLC.
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Weighted Average Term, ESA and Affiliate	16 years 3 months 18 days
Common membership units outstanding | shares	162,572,146
Deferred financing costs	$ 8,000,000	$ 9,000,000
Cinemark
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common membership units outstanding | shares	40,850,068
Percentage of common membership units outstanding	25.10%
Regal
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common membership units outstanding | shares	42,290,694
Percentage of common membership units outstanding	26.00%
AMC
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common membership units outstanding | shares	1,390,566
Percentage of common membership units outstanding	0.90%
NCM Inc. [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Common membership units outstanding | shares	78,040,818
Percentage of common membership units outstanding	48.00%
Minimum | Software And Development Costs
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Maximum | Software And Development Costs
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years

Basis of Presentation and Sum_5

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule of Receivables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ (2.3)	$ (6.2)
Total	16.2	170.8
Trade accounts
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivables	16.6	176
Other
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Receivables	$ 1.9	$ 1

Basis of Presentation and Sum_6

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Schedule of Useful Lives) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020
Equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	4 years
Equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	10 years
Computer hardware and software | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	3 years
Computer hardware and software | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life	5 years
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated useful life description	Lesser of lease term or asset life

Basis of Presentation and Sum_7

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Changes in Debt Issuance Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Nov. 07, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Beginning balance		$ 12.9	$ 12.8
Debt issuance costs		0.9	4.6
Amortization of debt issuance costs		(2.5)	(2.6)
Write-off of debt issuance costs	$ (1.9)	0	(1.9)
Ending balance		$ 11.3	$ 12.9

Basis of Presentation and Sum_8

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Changes in Equity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 24, 2020	Jun. 25, 2020	Mar. 26, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc.	$ (35.2)	$ (12.7)	$ (13.8)	$ (3.7)	$ 19.1	$ 9.2	$ 8.9	$ (1.1)	$ (65.4)	$ 36.1
NCM LLC equity issued for purchase of intangible asset									5	3.7
Income tax and other impacts of NCM LLC ownership changes									(3.9)	(0.7)
NCM, Inc. investment in NCM LLC									0	(1.7)
Issuance of shares to founding members									0	1.7
Change from net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc. and transfers from noncontrolling interests									$ (64.3)	$ 39.1

Basis of Presentation and Sum_9

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Effect of Change on Retained Earnings and APIC) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Balance	$ (121.2)	$ (89.2)
Retained Earnings
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Balance	(171.1)	(153.6)
Additional Paid In Capital (Deficit)
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Balance	$ (209.2)	$ (215.2)

Basis of Presentation and Su_10

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Effect of Change on Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Long-term deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	$ 0	$ 162.1
TOTAL ASSETS	886.2	1,130
Long-term payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	32.6	183.8
Total liabilities	1,154.8	1,251.2
Additional paid in capital (deficit)	(207.5)	(209.2)
Retained earnings (distributions in excess of earnings)	(266.4)	(171.1)
Total equity/(deficit)	(268.6)	(121.2)	$ (89.2)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/DEFICIT	886.2	1,130
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 212	$ 81.6

Basis of Presentation and Su_11

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Effect of Change on Statement of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 24, 2020	Jun. 25, 2020	Mar. 26, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Gain on re-measurement of the payable to founding members under the TRA									$ (152.7)	$ 1.1
Total non-operating expenses									(96.9)	62.2
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									35.9	99.1
Income tax expense									162.2	12.4
Consolidated net (loss) income									(126.3)	86.7
(Loss) Net income attributable to NCM, Inc.	$ (35.2)	$ (12.7)	$ (13.8)	$ (3.7)	$ 19.1	$ 9.2	$ 8.9	$ (1.1)	$ (65.4)	$ 36.1
Basic (in usd per share)	$ (0.45)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.25	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ (0.01)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.47
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (0.45)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.24	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ (0.01)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.46

Basis of Presentation and Su_12

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Effect of Change on Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Consolidated net (loss) income	$ (126.3)	$ 86.7
Deferred income tax expense	162.4	12.1
Non-cash (gain) loss on re-measurement of the payable to founding members under the TRA	(152.7)	1.1
Net cash provided by operating activities	55.3	143.6
Decrease within activity of APIC	$ 0.5	$ 0.7

Revenue from Contracts with C_3

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
ContentSegmentSeconds	90 seconds
Revenue	$ 90.4	$ 444.8
Make-good reserve	$ 7.1	8.7
Payment terms	30 days
Unbilled contracts receivable	$ 2.5	8
Barter Transaction Revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0.6	1.8
Costs of goods and services sold	$ 0.1	$ 2.1

Revenue from Contracts with C_4

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Disaggregation of Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 90.4	$ 444.8
National and regional advertising revenue
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	66.7	348.9
Local Advertising Revenue [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	17.5	66.9
Founding member advertising revenue from beverage concessionaire agreements
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 6.2	$ 29

Revenue from Contracts with C_5

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Changes in Deferred Revenue) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Balance at beginning of year	$ (7.6)
Performance obligations satisfied	7.6
New contract liabilities	(5.1)
Balance at end of year	$ (5.1)

Earnings Per Share (Schedule of

Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 24, 2020	Jun. 25, 2020	Mar. 26, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net (loss) income attributable to NCM, Inc.	$ (35.2)	$ (12.7)	$ (13.8)	$ (3.7)	$ 19.1	$ 9.2	$ 8.9	$ (1.1)	$ (65.4)	$ 36.1
Basic (in shares)									77,955,675	77,345,577
Add: Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, and exchangeable NCM LLC common membership units									0	436,990
Diluted (in shares)									77,955,675	77,782,567
Basic (in usd per share)	$ (0.45)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.25	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ (0.01)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.47
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (0.45)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.24	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ (0.01)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.46

Earnings Per Share (Schedule _2

Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted) (Additional Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Dilutive Securities, Effect on Basic Earnings Per Share, Options and Restrictive Stock Units, Tax	$ 0	$ 22.2	$ 42.3

Earnings Per Share (Narrative)

Earnings Per Share (Narrative) (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Stock Options And Non-Vested Restricted Stock [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares	5,193,200	2,568,418
Common Membership Units [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Shares excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares	83,903,921	81,450,384

Property and Equipment (Summary

Property and Equipment (Summary of Property and Equipment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Less: Accumulated depreciation	$ (77.7)	$ (70.7)
Subtotal	19.2	25.2
Construction in progress	8.3	8
Total property and equipment	27.5	33.2
Equipment, Computer Hardware And Software [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	94	93.5
Leasehold improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment	$ 2.9	$ 2.4

Intangible Assets (Narrative) (

Intangible Assets (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2020	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates			$ 9.8	$ 21.7
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization			627.8	643.7	$ 684.5
Amortization expense			24.6	26.7
Related Party Founding Members
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates			0.1	0.8
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization			$ 608.1	620.5
Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Percentage increase (decrease) in theater attendance for Common Unit adjustment to occur			(2.00%)
Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Percentage increase (decrease) in theater attendance for Common Unit adjustment to occur			2.00%
NCM, LLC.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in intangible assets, net	$ 10.5	$ 7.6
NCM, LLC. | AMC and Cinemark
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in intangible assets, net			$ (1.4)	(22.3)
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates			9.8	21.7
NCM, LLC. | Related Party Founding Members
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization			$ 608.1	$ 620.5
Weighted average remaining life			18 years 3 months 18 days	20 years
NCM, LLC. | Network Affiliates
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization			$ 19.7	$ 23.1
Weighted average remaining life			8 years 2 months 12 days	5 years 4 months 24 days

Intangible Assets (Summary of I

Intangible Assets (Summary of Intangible Asset's Activity) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
AccAmort,InangibleAsset,Affiliates	$ 0.5	$ 0.5
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance	842.6	857.2
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance	(198.9)	(172.7)
Total intangible assets, net, beginning balance	643.7	684.5
Additions	10.5	8.9
Other Intangible Assets, Net	(0.4)	(0.7)
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Intangible Assets	(0.9)	(1.2)
Amortization	(24.6)	(26.7)
Integration and other encumbered theater payments	(1.4)	(22.3)
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	850.8	842.6
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	(223)	(198.9)
Total intangible assets, net, ending balance	$ 627.8	$ 643.7

Intangible Assets (Summary of_2

Intangible Assets (Summary of Intangible Asset's Activity) (Additional Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2020	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates			$ 9.8	$ 21.7
NCM, LLC.
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Common membership units issued, net (in shares)	3,022,959	1,044,665
Increase (decrease) in intangible assets, net	$ 10.5	$ 7.6
NCM, LLC. | AMC and Cinemark
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in intangible assets, net			(1.4)	(22.3)
Proceeds From Integration And Other Encumbered Theater Payments Made By Affiliates			$ 9.8	$ 21.7

Intangible Assets (Summary of E

Intangible Assets (Summary of Estimated Aggregate Amortization Expense) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
2018	$ 24.2
2019	23.8
2020	23.8
2021	23.8
2022	$ 23.8

Accrued Expenses (Details)

Accrued Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Make-good reserve	$ 7.1	$ 8.7
Accrued interest	10	11.4
Other accrued expenses	1.9	2
Total accrued expenses	$ 19	$ 22.1

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Detai

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018	Jan. 01, 2039	Jan. 01, 2037	Dec. 31, 2036
Income Taxes [Line Items]
RelatedPartyTRAPayment,Cinemark		$ 3.2	$ 3.7
Percentage of cash savings related to taxes		90.00%
(Gain) loss on re-measurement of the payable to founding    members under the TRA		$ (152.7)	$ 1.1
U.S. federal statutory rate		21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
Integration payments			$ 0.1
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards		$ 52.1	19.2
RelatedPartyTRAPayment,Regal		5.8	6.7
Additional Tax Payments	$ 0.9
Reduction to Deferred Tax Asset		151.9
Increase in Income Tax Expense caused by Valuation Allowance		139
Reduction in Valuation Allowance from Investment in NCM LLC Deferred Tax Asset		8.6
Related Party Founding Members | Tax Year 2017
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Payments to affiliates for tax sharing agreement			$ 14.8
Related Party Founding Members | Tax Year 2019
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Payments to affiliates for tax sharing agreement		12.8
Federal
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards		$ 207.5				$ 160.5	$ 47
Federal | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, year under examination		2017
Federal | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, year under examination		2019
State
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards		$ 167.9			$ 47.8
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards		$ 120.1
State | Minimum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, year under examination		2016
State | Maximum
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, year under examination		2019
Research And Experimentation Tax Credit Carryforward | Federal and State
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards		$ 1.7
Capital Loss Carryforward | Federal and State
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards		$ 0.1

Income Taxes (Schedule of Compo

Income Taxes (Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Current Federal	$ (0.1)	$ 0
Current State	(0.1)	0.3
Total current income tax (benefit)/expense	(0.2)	0.3
Deferred Federal	131.8	10
Deferred State	30.6	2.1
Total deferred income tax expense	162.4	12.1
Total income tax provision	$ 162.2	$ 12.4

Income Taxes (Schedule of Recon

Income Taxes (Schedule of Reconciliation of Provision for Income Taxes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income before income taxes	$ 7.5	$ 20.8
Less: Noncontrolling interests	12.8	(10.6)
Income attributable to NCM, Inc.	20.3	10.2
Current year change to enacted federal and state rate	(1.4)	(0.7)
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	3.5	1.7
NCM LLC income taxes	(0.2)	0.2
Share-based compensation	0.5	0.3
Change in the valuation allowance (1)	139	0.9
NCM LLC membership unit issuance to NCM, Inc.	0.3	0.2
Executive compensation	0.6	0.4
Other	(0.4)	(0.8)
Total income tax provision	$ 162.2	$ 12.4

Income Taxes (Schedule of Com_2

Income Taxes (Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Investment in consolidated subsidiary NCM LLC	$ 156	$ 218.9
Share-based compensation	2.2	3
Net operating losses	52.1	19.2
Accrued bonus	0	0.4
Other	1.7	2.2
Total gross deferred tax assets	212	243.7
Valuation allowance	(212)	(81.6)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance	$ 0	$ 162.1

Income Taxes (Schedule of Com_3

Income Taxes (Schedule of Components of Deferred Tax Assets) (Additional Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Deferred tax assets recognized	$ 156	$ 218.9
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 212	$ 81.6

Equity (Narrative) (Details)

Equity (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020item$ / sharesshares	Dec. 26, 2019shares
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	175,000,000
Common stock, par value (in usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	78,040,818	77,568,986
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	78,040,818
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	10,000,000
Preferred stock, par value (in usd per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0
Number of votes per common share | item	1
NCM, LLC. | Related Party Founding Members
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Term of advertising services	30 years

Related Party Transactions (Nar

Related Party Transactions (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 26, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time to satisfy agreement obligations, in seconds		30 seconds		30 seconds	30 seconds
Percentage of cash savings related to taxes				90.00%
Cash payment due to founding members/managing member					$ 32,400,000
Membership units exchangeable into common stock ratio				100.00%
NetworkAffiliateTransactionsRelatedParty				$ 400,000	600,000
Promissory notes receivable from founding members						$ 25,000,000
Network costs				8,600,000	13,500,000
RelatedPartyTRAPayment,Regal				$ 3,200,000	3,700,000
Document Period End Date				Dec. 31, 2020
On-screen advertising time purchased, in seconds	60 seconds
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company			$ 85,200,000
Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Interest rate on notes receivable				5.00%
Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Promissory notes receivable from founding members						$ 8,300,000
Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Founding Member Ownership in ACJV, LLC						32.00%
NCM LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Founding Member Ownership in ACJV, LLC						4.00%
AC JV, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment in AC JV, LLC			700,000	$ 700,000	900,000
Cash distributions received from non-consolidated entities				$ 0	400,000
Related Party Founding Members | NCM LLC | Founding Members | Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Description of Transaction				Following is a summary of the related party transactions between the Company and the founding members (in millions): Years EndedIncluded in the Consolidated Statements of Income:December 31, 2020December 26, 2019Revenue:Beverage concessionaire revenue (included in   advertising revenue) (1)$4.9 $23.0 Operating expenses:Theater access fee and revenue share to founding members (2)16.0 56.6 Selling and marketing costs (3)0.1 0.4 Advertising operating costs (3)0.6 0.1 Non-operating expenses:Interest income from notes receivable (included in   interest income) (4)— 0.2 (1)For the full years ended December 31, 2020 and December 26, 2019, Regal and Cinemark purchased 60 seconds of on-screen advertising time (all three founding members having a right to purchase up to 90 seconds) from NCM LLC to satisfy their obligations under their beverage concessionaire agreements at a 30 second equivalent CPM rate specified by the ESA.(2)Comprised of payments per theater attendee, payments per digital screen with respect to the founding member theaters included in the Company’s network, payments for access to higher quality digital cinema equipment and payments to Cinemark and Regal for their portion of the Platinum Spot revenue for the utilization of the theaters post-showtime in accordance with the 2019 ESA Amendments. (3)Includes purchase of movie tickets, concession products, rental of theater space primarily for marketing to NCM LLC’s advertising clients and other payments made to the founding members in the ordinary course of business.(4)On December 26, 2013, NCM LLC sold its Fathom Events business to a newly formed limited liability company (AC JV, LLC) owned 32% by each of the founding members and 4% by NCM LLC. In consideration for the sale, NCM LLC received a total of $25.0 million in promissory notes from its founding members (one-third or approximately $8.3 million from each founding member). The notes bore interest at a fixed rate of 5.0% per annum, compounded annually. Interest and principal payments were due annually in six equal installments commencing on the first anniversary of the closing and ended on December 26, 2019. As ofIncluded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:December 31, 2020December 26, 2019Common unit adjustments, net of amortization and integration payments (included in    intangible assets) (1)$608.1 $620.5 Current payable to founding members under the TRA (2)0.6 10.3 Long-term payable to founding members under the TRA (2)23.7 133.5 Accounts payable (3)0.6 —
AMC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of common stock				$ 0
Regal
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash payment due to founding members/managing member					16,600,000
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company			22,400,000
Regal | AC JV, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership percentage						32.00%
Promissory notes receivable from founding members						$ 8,300,000
Cinemark
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash payment due to founding members/managing member					$ 15,800,000
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company			21,600,000
Cinemark | AC JV, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership percentage						32.00%
Promissory notes receivable from founding members						$ 8,300,000
Two Founding Members [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time purchased, in seconds		60 seconds		60 seconds	60 seconds
NCM, LLC. | AC JV, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment in AC JV, LLC			$ 700,000	$ 700,000	$ 900,000
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated entities				$ (200,000)	$ 400,000
NCM, LLC. | AMC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Membership units exchangeable into common stock ratio				100.00%
Number Of Days Utilized Within Membership Unit Redemption Payment Calculation				3 days
Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time to satisfy agreement obligations, in seconds				30 seconds
Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time to satisfy agreement obligations, in seconds				60 seconds
On-screen advertising time which founding members have right to purchase, in seconds		90 seconds		90 seconds	90 seconds

Related Party Transactions (Sum

Related Party Transactions (Summary of Transactions Between the Company and the Founding Members Included in Statements of Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 90.4	$ 444.8
Selling and marketing costs	37.6	64.9
Administrative and other costs	30.9	43.8
Related Party Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue	4.9	23
Theater access fee	16	56.6
Selling and marketing costs	0.1	0.4
Advertising operating costs	0.6	0.1
Interest income from notes receivable (included in interest income)	0	0.2
Beverage Concessionaire | Related Party Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 4.9	$ 23

Related Party Transactions (S_2

Related Party Transactions (Summary of Transactions Between the Company and the Founding Members Included in Statements of Income) (Additional Information) (Details)	5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time purchased, in seconds	60 seconds
On-screen advertising time to satisfy agreement obligations, in seconds		30 seconds	30 seconds	30 seconds
One Founding Members [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time purchased, in seconds		30 seconds	30 seconds	30 seconds
Two Founding Members [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time purchased, in seconds		60 seconds	60 seconds	60 seconds
Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time to satisfy agreement obligations, in seconds			60 seconds
On-screen advertising time which founding members have right to purchase, in seconds		90 seconds	90 seconds	90 seconds
Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
On-screen advertising time to satisfy agreement obligations, in seconds			30 seconds

Related Party Transactions (S_3

Related Party Transactions (Summary of Transactions Between the Company and the Founding Members Included in Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	$ 627.8	$ 643.7	$ 684.5
Current payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	0.9	14.2
Long-term payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	32.6	183.8
Related Party Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization	608.1	620.5
Current payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	0.6	10.3
Long-term payable to founding members under tax receivable agreement	23.7	133.5
Accounts Payable	$ 0.6	$ 0

Related Party Transactions (Sch

Related Party Transactions (Schedule of Mandatory Distributions to Members) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash distributions declared to members	$ 8.4	$ 148.8
Cinemark
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash distributions declared to members	2.1	37.2
Regal
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash distributions declared to members	2.2	39.1
Related Party Founding Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash distributions declared to members	4.3	76.3
NCM Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Cash distributions declared to members	$ 4.1	$ 72.5

Related Party Transactions (S_4

Related Party Transactions (Schedule of Amounts Due to Founding Members) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Theater access fees and revenue share, net of beverage revenues    and other encumbered theater payments	$ 1.5	$ 4.5
Costs and Other Reimbursement	(0.2)
Distributions Payable		32.4
Cost and other reimbursement		(0.1)
Total amounts due to founding members, net	1.3	36.8
Cinemark
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Theater access fees and revenue share, net of beverage revenues    and other encumbered theater payments	0.6	2
Costs and Other Reimbursement	(0.1)
Distributions Payable		15.8
Cost and other reimbursement		(0.1)
Total amounts due to founding members, net	0.5	17.7
Regal
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Theater access fees and revenue share, net of beverage revenues    and other encumbered theater payments	0.9	2.5
Costs and Other Reimbursement	(0.1)
Distributions Payable		16.6
Cost and other reimbursement		0
Total amounts due to founding members, net	$ 0.8	$ 19.1

Borrowings (Schedule of Outstan

Borrowings (Schedule of Outstanding Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018	Aug. 19, 2016	Apr. 27, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Less: Debt issuance costs related to term loans and senior notes	$ (11.3)	$ (12.9)	$ (12.8)
Long-term Debt	1,052.3	926.6
Less: current portion of debt	(2.7)	(2.7)
Carrying value of long-term debt	1,049.6	923.9
NCM, LLC.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	1,060.3	935.6
Less: Debt issuance costs related to term loans and senior notes	(8)	(9)
Long-term Debt	1,060.3
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 167	39
Maturity date	Jun. 20, 2023
NCM, LLC. | Term loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 263.3	266.6
Maturity date	Jun. 20, 2025
NCM, LLC. | Senior Notes Due Two Zero Two Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate					6.00%
NCM, LLC. | Senior unsecured notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 230	230
Maturity date	Aug. 15, 2026
Interest Rate	5.75%			5.75%
NCM, LLC. | Senior Secured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 400
Maturity date	Apr. 15, 2028
Interest Rate	5.875%
NCM, LLC. | Senior Unsecured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 400	$ 400

Borrowings (Narrative) (Details

Borrowings (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Nov. 07, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Apr. 15, 2023	Nov. 07, 2019	Aug. 19, 2016	May 26, 2016	Apr. 27, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 180,300,000	$ 55,900,000
Write off of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost	$ 1,900,000	0	1,900,000
Redemption Premium	$ 4,000,000
Debt instrument redemption price percentage					101.00%
Repayments of term loan facility		$ 3,400,000	2,700,000
AggregateRemainingofPrincipal,Notes2028		65.00%
Credit Facility Availability Compliance		$ 55
Credit Agreement EBITDA Limit		277
Outstanding Credit Facility Waiver Limit		39
Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents		100,000,000
NCM, LLC.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, carrying value		$ 1,060,300,000	935,600,000
NCM, LLC. | Senior Notes Due Two Zero Two Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument face amount								$ 400,000,000
Stated interest rate								6.00%
Debt instrument, frequency of periodic payment		The Notes due 2022 pay interest semi-annually in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, which commenced October 15, 2012.
Debt instrument issued percentage of face value								100.00%
NCM, LLC. | Senior unsecured notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, carrying value		$ 230,000,000	230,000,000
Maturity date		Aug. 15, 2026
Debt instrument face amount						$ 250,000,000
Stated interest rate		5.75%				5.75%
Debt instrument, frequency of periodic payment		The Notes due 2026 pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, which commenced on February 15, 2017.
Debt instrument issued percentage of face value						100.00%
Repurchase amount		$ 0	5,000,000
Nonoperating gain (loss) related to debt issuance costs		$ 0	0.3
NCM, LLC. | Senior unsecured notes due 2026 | Prior to August 15, 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument redemption description		NCM LLC may redeem all or any portion of the Notes due 2026 prior to August 15, 2021, at once or over time, at 100% of the principal amount plus the applicable make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
NCM, LLC. | Senior unsecured notes due 2026 | On or After August 15, 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument redemption description		NCM LLC may redeem all or any portion of the Notes due 2026, at once or over time, on or after August 15, 2021 at specified redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.
NCM, LLC. | Senior unsecured notes due 2026 | Prior to August 15, 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument redemption description		In addition, at any time prior to August 15, 2019, NCM LLC may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of Notes due 2026 from the net proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 105.750% of the principal amount of the Notes due 2026 redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to the redemption date.
NCM, LLC. | Senior Secured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight [Member] [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, carrying value		$ 400,000,000
Maturity date		Apr. 15, 2028
Stated interest rate		5.875%
NCM, LLC. | Senior Unsecured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, carrying value		$ 400,000,000	400,000,000
Debt instrument redemption price percentage				105.875%
RedemptionAggregate,Notes2028		35.00%
NCM, LLC. | Term loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, carrying value		$ 263,300,000	266,600,000
Maturity date		Jun. 20, 2025
Weighted-average interest rate		4.00%
Amortization rate		1.00%
Cumulative Principal Amount Paid on Term Loan		$ 6,700,000
NCM, LLC. | Term loans | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		3.00%
DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateIncrease		2.75%
NCM, LLC. | Term loans | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		2.00%
DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateIncrease		1.75%
NCM, LLC. | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net total leverage ratio, covenant		6.25
Net senior secured leverage ratio		4.50
NCM, LLC. | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net senior secured leverage ratio		5.50
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing amount of credit facility		$ 175,000,000					$ 175,000,000
Debt Instrument, carrying value		$ 167,000,000	$ 39,000,000
Maturity date		Jun. 20, 2023
Remaining borrowing capacity of credit facility		$ 4,400,000
Unused line fee, percent		0.50%
Weighted-average interest rate		3.25%
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility | LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		2.00%
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility | LIBOR [Member] | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		2.25%
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility | LIBOR [Member] | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		1.75%
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility | Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		1.00%
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility | Base Rate [Member] | Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		1.25%
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility | Base Rate [Member] | Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate, percent		0.75%
NCM, LLC. | Revolving credit facility | Letters of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Remaining borrowing capacity of credit facility		$ 3,600,000
NCM, LLC. | Senior Unsecured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate		5.875%
NCM, LLC. | Covenant During Waiver Min [Member] | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net senior secured leverage ratio		5
NCM, LLC. | Covenant During Waiver Max [Member] | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net senior secured leverage ratio		1
Change of Control | NCM, LLC. | Senior unsecured notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument redemption price percentage		101.00%
Change of Control | NCM, LLC. | Senior Unsecured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight [Domain]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument redemption price percentage		100.00%

Borrowings (Schedule of Annual

Borrowings (Schedule of Annual Maturities on Credit Facility and Senior Notes) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 1,052.3	$ 926.6
NCM, LLC.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2019	2.7
2020	2.7
2021	169.7
2022	2.7
2023	252.5
Thereafter	630
Total	$ 1,060.3

Share-Based Compensation (Narra

Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2018	Dec. 26, 2013	Dec. 27, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock available for grants	6,969,753
Achievement of percentage in performance based restricted stock	100.00%
Recognized share-based compensation expense	$ 2,200,000	$ 5,500,000
Capitalized share-based compensation expense	200,000	200,000
Income tax benefit from share-based compensation	$ 300,000	700,000
Weighted average remaining period over which unrecognized compensation costs will be recognized	2 years 1 month 6 days
Number of additional restricted stock issued under satisfying maximum performance criteria	438,255
Number of restricted stock and restricted stock units expected to vest, after consideration of expected forfeitures of shares	1,823,001
2016 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance	2,148,857
2020 Omnibus Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock available for issuance	7,500,000
2020 Omnibus Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average grant date fair value of granted options	$ 2.71
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Exercisable	1 year 4 months 24 days
Unvested Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested options	$ 500,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested options	$ 4,500,000
Weighted average remaining period over which unrecognized compensation costs will be recognized	1 year 7 months 6 days
Fair value of awards vested	$ 5,800,000	6,800,000
Accrued dividend	$ 700,000	$ 1,600,000
Vesting period	3 years
Vesting percentage for year	33.33%
Vesting description	The Company has issued time-based restricted stock to its employees which vests over a three-year period with one-third vesting on each anniversary of the date of grant and performance-based restricted stock which vests following a three-year measurement period to the extent that the Company achieves specified non-GAAP targets at the end of the measurement period.
Measurement period	3 years
Weighted average grant date fair value of granted options	$ 4.13	$ 7.02
Restricted Stock [Member] | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, percentage	2.00%
Restricted Stock [Member] | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Estimated annual forfeiture rate, percentage	6.00%
Stock Options [Member] | 2007 Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures	0	0	0	0	0
Stock Options [Member] | 2007 Plan [Member] | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options contractual term	10 years
Stock Options [Member] | 2007 Plan [Member] | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options contractual term	15 years
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend payments during period upon vesting of stock units	$ 800,000	$ 900,000
Vesting period	3 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	1 year

Share-Based Compensation (Sched

Share-Based Compensation (Schedule of Share-Based Compensation Costs) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	6 years	6 years 9 months 18 days
Total share-based compensation costs	$ 2.2	$ 5.5
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	0.30%	1.80%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	53.90%	36.60%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	10.30%	8.90%
Network Costs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation costs	$ 0.2	$ 0.4
Selling and Marketing Costs
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation costs	0.8	1.4
Administrative Cost
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items]
Total share-based compensation costs	$ 1.2	$ 3.7

Share-Based Compensation (Summa

Share-Based Compensation (Summary of Option Award Activity) (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Vested and Expected to Vest	6 years	6 years 9 months 18 days
2020 Omnibus Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted	500,606
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 2.71
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic [Abstract]
Options, Outstanding, beginning balance (in shares)	2,550,098
Options, Forfeited (in shares)	(97,761)
Options, Expired (in shares)	(430,621)
Options, Outstanding, ending balance (in shares)	2,522,322	2,550,098
Options, Exercisable (in shares)	1,588,250
Options, Vested and Expected to Vest (in shares)	2,495,775
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Abstract]
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding, beginning balance (in dollars per share)	$ 14.30
Weighted average exercise price, Forfeited (in dollars per share)	16.33
Weighted average exercise price, Expired (in dollars per share)	16
Weighted average exercise price, Outstanding, ending balance (in dollars per share)	11.70	$ 14.30
Weighted average exercise price, Exercisable (in dollars per share)	15.43
Weighted average exercise price, Vested and Expected to Vest (in dollars per share)	$ 11.63
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Outstanding	4 years 3 months 18 days	3 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Exercisable	1 year 4 months 24 days
Weighted average remaining contractual life, Vested and Expected to Vest	4 years 2 months 12 days

Share-Based Compensation (Sum_2

Share-Based Compensation (Summary of Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020$ / sharesshares
Number of Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Number of restricted shares and restricted stock units, Non-vested, beginning balance (in shares) | shares	1,787,218
Number of restricted shares and restricted stock units, Granted (in shares) | shares	1,736,723
Number of restricted shares and restricted stock units, Vested (in shares) | shares	(612,619)
Number of restricted shares and restricted stock units, Forfeited (in shares) | shares	(240,444)
Number of restricted shares and restricted stock units, Non-vested, ending balance (in shares) | shares	2,670,878
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Weighted average grant-date fair value, Non-vested, beginning balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 8.68
Weighted average grant-date fair value, Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	4.13
Weighted average grant-date fair value, Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	9.31
Weighted average grant-date fair value, Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	13.12
Weighted average grant-date fair value, Non-vested, ending balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 5.18

Share-Based Compensation (Sum_3

Share-Based Compensation (Summary of Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units) (Additional Information) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020shares
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]
Vested shares withheld to cover tax obligations	140,787

Employee Benefit Plans (Narrati

Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]
Percent of compensation participants may contribute	20.00%
Discretionary contributions	$ 0.5	$ 1.2

Commitments and Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	Nov. 01, 2027	Oct. 31, 2022	Oct. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Oct. 31, 2027	Nov. 01, 2019
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent				7.34%
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset				$ 20,500,000
Short-term Lease Commitment, Amount				1,800,000
Operating Lease, Liability				$ 22,600,000
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term				9 years 1 month 6 days
Maximum potential payment				$ 59,100,000
Guarantee obligations amount paid				0		$ 500,000
Liabilities recorded for related party obligations				0		500,000
Amount Increase In Payment Per Theater Patron	$ 0.08	$ 0.05	$ 0.0375		$ 0.025		$ 0.052
Platinum Spot Revenue Percentage								25.00%
Operating Lease, Lease Income, Lease Payments				3,700,000		3,300,000
NCM, LLC.
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Liabilities recorded for related party obligations				$ 0
Percentage of increase in payment per theatre patron				8.00%
Term of increase in payment percentage per theater patron				5 years
Percentage of increase in payment per digital screen and digital cinema equipment				5.00%
NCM, LLC. | Related Party Founding Members
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Liabilities recorded for related party obligations						$ 0
Minimum
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Range of terms, in years				1 year
Minimum | NCM, LLC. | Related Party Founding Members
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Aggregate percentage of theater access fee paid				12.00%
Maximum
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Range of terms, in years				20 years

Commitments and Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies (Schedule of Minimum Lease Payments Under Noncancelable Operating Leases) (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2018	$ 3.7
2019	3.8
2020	3.8
2021	3.8
2022	3.7
Thereafter	15.2
Total	34
ImputedInterestFutureLeasePayments	(9.6)
TotalLeaseLiability	$ 24.4

Commitments and Contingencies L

Commitments and Contingencies Lease Cost Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Leases [Abstract]
Operating Lease, Cost	$ 3.5	$ 3.2
Short-term Lease, Cost	0	0.2
Variable Lease, Cost	0.5	0.5
Lease, Cost	$ 4	$ 3.9

Fair Value Measurements (Schedu

Fair Value Measurements (Schedule of Other Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Other investments	$ 0.1	$ 0.1
Total other investments	0.8	1
AC JV, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Investment in AC JV, LLC	$ 0.7	$ 0.9

Fair Value Measurements (Sche_2

Fair Value Measurements (Schedule of Other Investments) (Additional Information) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Maximum
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Cost-method ownership percentage	20.00%	20.00%

Fair Value Measurements (Narrat

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 26, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Loss	$ 0
Impairment of investment	0	$ 2,000,000
Fair value of cost method investment	0
Promissory notes receivable from founding members			$ 25,000,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ 1,300,000

Fair Value Measurements (Estima

Fair Value Measurements (Estimated Fair Values of Company's Financial Instruments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term marketable securities	$ 1.2	$ 7.5
Amortized Cost Basis	1.6	25.1
Available-for-sale Securities	1.5	25
Short-term marketable securities	0.3	17.5
Short-term Certificates of Deposit
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 0.9
Maturities		9 months 18 days
Short-term marketable securities		$ 0.9
Short Term Municipal Bonds
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 1.2
Maturities		6 months
Short-term marketable securities		$ 1.2
Short-term Marketable Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	0.3	17.6
Short-term marketable securities	0.3	17.5
Short Term Commercial Paper - Financial
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 8
Maturities		3 months 18 days
Short-term marketable securities		$ 7.9
Short Term Commercial Paper - Industrial
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 4
Maturities		2 months 12 days
Short-term marketable securities		$ 4
Short Term U.S. Agency Bonds
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 3.5
Maturities		4 months 24 days
Short-term marketable securities		$ 3.5
Long Term U.S. Agency Bonds
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term marketable securities		4.5
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 4.5
Maturities		2 years 2 months 12 days
Long Term Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term marketable securities		$ 3
Amortized Cost Basis		$ 3
Maturities		3 years 7 months 6 days
Long-term Marketable Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Long-term marketable securities	1.2	$ 7.5
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1.3	7.5
Maturities	2 years 9 months 18 days
Term loans | Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument	$ 263.3	266.6
Term loans | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument	217.2	266.9
Senior unsecured notes due 2026 | Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument	230	230
Senior unsecured notes due 2026 | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument	160.7	226.2
Senior Unsecured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight [Domain] | Carrying Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument	400	400
Senior Unsecured Notes Due Two Zero Two Eight [Domain] | Fair Value [Member]
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Debt Instrument	$ 337.5	$ 426.7

Fair Value Measurements (Fair V

Fair Value Measurements (Fair Values of the Company's Assets and Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Short-term marketable securities	$ 0.3	$ 17.5
Long-term marketable securities	1.2	7.5
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	52.8	28.8
Short-term marketable securities	0.3	17.5
Long-term marketable securities	1.2	7.5
Total assets	54.3	53.8
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	52.8	16.8
Total assets	52.8	16.8
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Cash equivalents	0	12
Short-term marketable securities	0.3	17.5
Long-term marketable securities	1.2	7.5
Total assets	$ 1.5	$ 37

Fair Value Measurements (Fair_2

Fair Value Measurements (Fair Values of the Company's Assets and Liabilities) (Additional Information) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Gross unrealized losses related to individual securities	$ 0

Fair Value Measurements (Sche_3

Fair Value Measurements (Schedule of Marketable Securities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1.6	$ 25.1
Aggregate Fair Value - Short term marketable securities	0.3	17.5
Aggregate Fair Value - Long term marketable securities	1.2	7.5
Aggregate Fair Value - Total marketable securities	1.5	25
Certificates of Deposit
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis	0.3
Aggregate Fair Value - Short term marketable securities	$ 0.3
Maturities	7 months 6 days
Short Term U.S. Agency Bonds
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale [Line Items]
Amortized Cost Basis		3.5
Aggregate Fair Value - Short term marketable securities		$ 3.5
Maturities		4 months 24 days

Valuation and Qualifying Acco_3

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts) (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Dec. 27, 2019
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13	$ 2,900,000
Payable to founding members under the TRA (related party payables of $23.7 and $133.5, respectively)	32,600,000	$ 183,800,000
Related Party Founding Members
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Payable to founding members under the TRA (related party payables of $23.7 and $133.5, respectively)	23,700,000	133,500,000
Retained Earnings (Distribution in Excess of Earnings)
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13	(3,200,000)	0
Uncollectible Receivables [Member]
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13		3,000,000	$ 3,000,000
Retained Earnings Adjustment 2016-13 [Member]
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect Adjustment for Adoption of ASU 2016-13		3,200,000
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Allowance, Credit Loss [Member]
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	6,200,000	6,000,000
Provision for bad debt	300,000	1,200,000
Write-offs, net	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Balance at end of period	2,300,000	6,200,000
Valuation Allowance On Deferred Tax Assets [Member]
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	81,600,000	80,100,000
Valuation allowance reversed	130,400,000	1,500,000
Balance at end of period	212,000,000	81,600,000
Valuation Allowance On Deferred Tax Assets [Member] | Valuation Allowance Reversed
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Valuation allowance reversed	$ 0	$ 0

Quarterly Financial Data (Sched

Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 24, 2020	Jun. 25, 2020	Mar. 26, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019	Sep. 26, 2019	Jun. 27, 2019	Mar. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 26, 2019
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 15.7	$ 6	$ 4	$ 64.7	$ 147.2	$ 110.5	$ 110.2	$ 76.9
Operating expenses	36.5	27.3	27.8	59.8	74.5	70.5	72.5	66	$ 151.4	$ 283.5
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME	(20.8)	(21.3)	(23.8)	4.9	72.7	40	37.7	10.9	(61)	161.3
Consolidated net (loss) income	(53.8)	(30.9)	(33.4)	(8.2)	45.5	22.8	21	(2.6)
(Loss) Net income attributable to NCM, Inc.	$ (35.2)	$ (12.7)	$ (13.8)	$ (3.7)	$ 19.1	$ 9.2	$ 8.9	$ (1.1)	$ (65.4)	$ 36.1
(Loss) Earnings per NCM, Inc. share, basic	$ (0.45)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.25	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ (0.01)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.47
(Loss) Earnings per NCM, Inc. share, diluted	$ (0.45)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.05)	$ 0.24	$ 0.12	$ 0.11	$ (0.01)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.46

Subsequent Event (Narrative) (D

Subsequent Event (Narrative) (Details)	Feb. 21, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)	Sep. 29, 2022USD ($)	Mar. 08, 2021USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2021USD ($)$ / shares
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Outstanding Credit Facility Waiver Limit		$ 39
Subsequent Event		17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On March 8, 2021, NCM LLC entered into an additional amendment to its Credit Agreement, dated as of June 20, 2018. Among other things, the Credit Agreement Second Amendment provides for: (i) certain modifications to the negative covenants; (ii) a waiver of non-compliance with the consolidated net total leverage and consolidated net senior secured leverage financial covenants through the quarter ended June 30, 2022; (iii) the consolidated net total leverage ratio and consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio financial covenants to be set to 6.75 to 1.00 and 5.50 to 1.00, respectively, for the quarter ending on or about September 29, 2022, and (iv) with respect to NCM LLC’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, a waiver of the requirement to deliver such financial statements without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception. The Credit Agreement Second Amendment also: (i) grants security interests in certain assets of NCM LLC and other potential loan parties that are not currently pledged to the lenders and (ii) increases the applicable margin of the existing term loans and revolving loans issued under the Credit Agreement in an amount equal to 1.00%. Additionally, pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement Second Amendment, NCM LLC is restricted from making available cash distributions until after NCM LLC delivers a compliance certificate for the quarter ending on or about September 29, 2022, and, thereafter, NCM LLC may only make available cash distributions if: (i) no default or event of default under the Credit Agreement has occurred and is continuing; (ii) the senior secured financial covenant leverage ratio is equal to or less than 4.00 to 1.00; and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding revolving loans under the Credit Agreement is $39.0 million or less. In addition, pursuant to the Credit Agreement Second Amendment, NCM LLC will incur new incremental term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $50.0 million, the proceeds of which will be used for general corporate purposes. The New Incremental Loans will have substantially similar terms to the existing term loans (after giving effect the Credit Agreement Second Amendment), except that the New Incremental Loans will: (i) have a cash interest rate of LIBOR plus 8.00%, (ii) have a maturity of December 20, 2024, and (iii) be subject to prepayment premiums if the Borrower prepays the New Incremental Loans before maturity. In connection with the grant of the Additional Collateral to the lenders under the Credit Agreement, NCM LLC concurrently entered into an amendment to the Security Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2019 made by NCM LLC, as issuer, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent, relating to that certain Indenture, dated as of October 8, 2019, between NCM LLC, as issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, relating to NCM LLC’s Notes due 2028. This amendment grants a security interest in the Additional Collateral for the benefit of the holders of the Secured Notes. The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern was subject to uncertainty as the Company did not expect to meet certain of its financial covenants within one year following the date of issuance. As a result of the additional funding received and the extension of the automatic waiver of any non-compliance with its consolidated net senior secured leverage ratio and consolidated total leverage ratio financial covenants occurring through and including the quarter ending July 1, 2022 discussed above, substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern no longer exists. On March 8, 2021, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.05 per share (approximately $3.9 million) on each share of the Company’s common stock (not including outstanding restricted stock and restricted stock units which will accrue dividends until the shares vest) to stockholders of record on March 22, 2021 to be paid on April 5, 2021.
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Incremental Term Loan Rate				8.00%
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | Credit Agreement Second Amendment
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Term Loan Margin Increase			1.00%
Incremental Term Loan				$ 50,000,000
Outstanding Credit Facility Waiver Limit			$ 39,000,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | NCM, LLC.
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Net senior secured leverage ratio		4.50
Covenant During Waiver Min [Member] | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | NCM, LLC.
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Net senior secured leverage ratio		5
Covenant During Waiver Min [Member] | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | NCM, LLC. | Credit Agreement Second Amendment
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Consolidated Net Senior Secured Leverage Ratio			5.50
Consolidated Net Total Leverage Ratio			6.75
Senior Secured Financial Covenant Ratio			4
Covenant During Waiver Max [Member] | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | NCM, LLC.
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Net senior secured leverage ratio		1
Covenant During Waiver Max [Member] | Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] | NCM, LLC. | Credit Agreement Second Amendment
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Consolidated Net Senior Secured Leverage Ratio			1
Consolidated Net Total Leverage Ratio			1
Senior Secured Financial Covenant Ratio			1
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Events [Line Items]
Dividends payable, date declared	Mar. 8, 2021
Cash dividends declared, per share | $ / shares					$ 0.05
Cash dividends declared					$ 3,900,000
Dividends payable, date of record	Mar. 22, 2021
Dividends payable, date to be paid	Apr. 5, 2021

Related Party Disclosures (Deta

Related Party Disclosures (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	$ 85.2
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	85.2
Cinemark
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	21.6
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	21.6
Regal
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	22.4
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	22.4
NCM Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	41.2
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Negative Distributions Made to Limited Liability Company	$ 41.2