A three-dimensional (3D) holographic display system includes a projector that generates an image with a form of spatially varying modulation on a light beam; holographic processor that performs a holographic method on the image generated by the projector; and memory device that stores holographic data generated in a process of performing the holographic method by the holographic processor. An amplitude of a light field is adaptively replaced by the holographic processor according to significance of respective areas of the image.