Beacon Theater

The staff was friendly and the prices were comparable, and in some cases cheaper, than other theatres I’ve been to. It was clean, including the bathrooms. My only complaint is that the chairs are a little uncomfortable but that’s fairly standard.

Yeah. It kinda smelled like pee. Unfortunately it’s the only option in Sumter. And this town is a mega sh*thole anyways. What did everybody expect? Buy your snacks at the gas station so you don’t throw as much of your money away and see a matinée because it’s cheaper … or suck up the hour drive to Columbia.

The Beacon is not the greatest theater, not even close. They have really tried to update the place replacing the seating and adding two 3D theaters. Overall I find the place acceptable, but honestly the only reason I don’t go elsewhere is because the nearest theater is an hour away… and this is a fact the Beacon is aware of.

I always think this theater is very clean and the staff always seems to be working pretty hard. Here are the reasons in where they can improve. Sure it’s from corporate, but I’m the summer the theaters are always just a little to hot. If I am going to pay this much to see a first run movie, turn it down to 76 or less. Second when I ask for butter in the middle, I didn’t ask for EXTRA butter, just the regular amount spread evenly through the bag. Last time there was so darn much that it left a slick spot in the floor where I say the bag. So happy it was not on my leg! Lastly, they use to turn the lights on to clean before credits where completed but the I think they finally got the idea that some people watch them all the way to the end, for whatever reason, maybe there is someone in the industry you know or there is a scene after them, doesn’t matter. I paid for the entire movie. But like I said they have not done this to me in a while, so good job on fixing this behavior.
All in all, this is a good place to catch a movie with your sweetie.

Been living in Sumter for three years. I absolutely love movies but this theater is one of the worst theaters I’ve ever been too. Way overpriced tickets. Not friendly staff. Always long lines for concessions. Pretty disappointing. The theater is out dated but at least the picture quality is decent. However many times I can hear action movies «thundering» in the comedy I’m watching. If you’re planning a date night… go to Columbia.

It’s funny, I actually thought I had already written this review considering how long I’ve been in the area but after looking through my own reviews, I realized that wasn’t the case.
So, onward!
«The Beacon» isn’t that bad really as far as movie theatres go, but in all honesty I only really use it for a quick flick (ie: no need to go to Columbia that day). Some of the screens are actually pretty small with minimal seating, so it doesn’t always have that night at the movies feel to it. Which is funny in a cynical way because it’s actually more expensive for a movie ticket at Beacon then the larger/​newer cinemas in Columbia.
This is why I only go if I’m NOT already going to Columbia… technically the gas price makes up the difference so I «Suck it up».
When I do go here, it tends to be the afternoon showings. Past 7 it gets a bit uncomfortable with cops babysitting everyone (worries me about what’s happened here before) and annoying as kids/​teens randomly jump from cinema to cinema all while having conversations at night club volumes. Clearly manners aren’t really instilled in everyone.
All that said, the afternoon movies I’ve seen have been good experiences. No conversations during the movie, service at both the ticket booth and concession stand is friendly and expeditious, and though the selection is limited they still have tasty snacks.
For a big night out or group outing, I’ll still go to Sandhill or Columbiana, but for a quick little movie afternoon, I’ll continue to visit Beacon while I’m in the area.

I went today (on Father’s Day) to see Superman. You’d think a theater that started showing movies at 1 would be prepared, nope. I was there 15 early to purchase my ticket for the 1:00 viewing. The line was very long because there was only one person selling tickets. I saw the line for concessions and that was long as well. By 1:05 I finally got my movie ticket for the 1:30 movie.
I wanted some popcorn, but there were only 2 people working the concessions line. Popcorn was being cooked to order because they didn’t have enough. A third girl showed up and her clothes were dirty. I ordered some popcorn. I saw her scoop popcorn seeds with her bare hands. She put it in a scoop added salt and poured it in the popper. That’s disgusting! I told her supervisor and he said that’s not what they do, but I explained myself again and he questioned her. She admitted it and she had to go wash her hands. The supervisor apologized and thanked me for pointing it out. The girl came back and scooped the bottom of the barrel of the old cold popcorn, than added the new dirty popcorn on top. The time is now 1:35. I walked away and asked for a refund on the popcorn. I waited almost 30mins for some cold old popcorn topped with hot dirty popcorn. Yuck. Would you share popcorn with a stranger that ran their hands through her hair, and touched the floor? Well that’s what she did before she touched the popcorn seeds.
I could have driven to Columbia or Florence if you add all the time I waited in line. I also could of had a better experience. The town just has poor service.

Overpriced and doesn’t offer any type of military or student discount. I also waited for almost 10 min for the ticket person to show up and take my ticket. Whish there was more early movie times also.

Expensive, expensive, and did I mention it was expensive?! I will look for other cinemas in Columbia to go to in the future if I feel like seeing a movie.

Outdated & overpriced

This theater is a monopoly in Sumter. Anyone that would like to open another theater, I would gladly support with my business. After reading the previous reviews, I have to laugh because prices are now at $ 9.50 PER ticket. That is flat out RIDICULOUS. There is no dinner and a movie date, it’s either dinner OR the movie. I wouldn’t give them my money if it were the last theater on earth. Get real. This is flipping Sumter.

So, this is the first time I’ve been to this (or any) theater since my last review more than 3 years ago. I don’t know why I gave it 4-​stars at that time, as it should have been 3. I went today because, for more than a year, I’ve been dying for the release of The Expendables. I decided to avoid the opening night rush and, instead, went first thing this morning (Saturday) for the matinée (now $ 7, up from the $ 6 in my previous review.
I almost didn’t enjoy the movie because my stomach was getting upset from the smell of the theater and the seats, which was a mixture of wet pets, sick old people, sweat, urine, and who knows what else. The dampness of the grimy seats felt like it was soaking through my shirt…
I’m glad that I’m only enticed to attend a theatrical release once every three years, as it gives me ample time to forget the reasons I had for not wanting to come back again.
*Previous review*
With a small child entertainment opportunities don’t provide themselves all that frequently. This is the first time in the 3 years I’ve lived here that I’ve been to the Beacon (though I have been to the Carmike once) Cinemas. I caught the Harry Potter 5 matinée which was a reasonable $ 6 and the snack bar prices were naturally obscene, but I decided to treat myself to a $ 3.50 box of Skittles. That actually turned into a $ 4.75 box of Skittles because the theater charges $ 1.25 to run a debit card. The clerk made no mention of it and I only noticed a small 8pt font sticker on the pad when I was prompted to enter my PIN. Too late now…
None of the staff was friendly or helpful, from the ticket booth to the usher to the snack bar folks.
The seating was ok, sort of an attempt at stadium seating. The chairs themselves were uncomfortable — I found myself shifting every few minutes — but the arm rests lifted out of the way which helped a little. The theaters were larger than I was expecting. Sound & picture was of decent quality.
Overall an ok experience but make sure to bring cash…

I’m downgrading my review. (Previously 3 stars) Everytime I visit the Beacon, the price jumps. It is now a full $ 8.50. Ladies and gentleman, this is a CRAPPY THEATER. They do not accept credit cards, no on line ticketing, $ 1.25 fee for each debit card transaction, and consistently rude employees.

Some screens are smaller than others. Today, I felt like I was sitting in a long tunnel, with a movie playing at the end of it. The screen was so small. And sound quality? Average. I have been going less and less. But now, I think I am really going to retire from the Beacon.
Update, 3÷16÷08; the Beacon is spending $ 1M to expand into a 12-​theater complex by Christmas. I wonder how they will pay for it. I expect $ 9.50 movies by the Fall.