This place is a real gem, and its curation is great. It's always exciting to go in without watching any trailers for a film and be completely consumed by the screen and sound. That being said, the past two times I've been to the beacon, there were entire rows of people talking (not even whispering). I understand the excitement of these films, but it was really off-putting and made watching the film inaccessible. I am not exaggerating when I say that my partner and I couldn't hear half the movie because some very excited movie-goers who had seen the film before had to give commentary the entire time. When my partner asked if they could quiet down a bit, one of the people in the group loudly announced that they "couldn't enjoy the movie anymore", then left and then returned 5 minutes later to talk at the exact same volume. I noticed around 30 minutes into the film, two folks sitting in front of us had left (likely because of the noise) and the people next to us kept looking back at the same row. I nudged my partner at one point and questioned if we should also leave because the movie-watching experience was basically ruined -- but we were too far in to give up. I didn't really want to snitch, and don't want to in the future -- so I hope folks at the beacon encourage good movie watching etiquette to promote accessibility of the space <3! I think adding a comment at the beginning could be helpful. It's also kind of awful to have a bunch of white people who look like they listen to Alex G take up a lot of space and have no sense of awareness of those around them. This happened on thanksgiving day ironically, and it felt like they were embodying the colonizing spirit of their ancestors )): bad vibes sadly.

It's hard to overstate how absolutely essential The Beacon Cinema is to people who truly love movies. As movies face increased competition in the greater culture, The Beacon stokes the cinematic fires and reminds us how magical it is to sit in a room full of people for a shared experience, which at this theater often means a fresh discovery as well. And beyond the brilliant programming and delightful experience in the theater, The Beacon goes further by contributing to the cultural conversation, boasting a lobby full of well-curated film reads, hosting singular screenings with filmmakers and cultural commentators, as well as creating unique content in-house. Plus, their merch is sick. The Beacon Cinema is an absolute gift.

The theater is a neat little place, and the man running the show the night I was there was very nice. However, before the movie began the audience was shown an x-rated preview for an upcoming showing at the theater. It included full frontal male nudity, and a full on uncensored male self-pleasuring scene (and more). There was no warning and there is nothing on their website that would indicate that that type of media would be shown. No one in my party was asked for an ID prior to seeing this movie, so presumably someone under 18 could be in the audience. I am a very open person, but forcing people (possibly underage as well) to view pornographic material at a movie theater (with no warning) is wrong.

A new independent cinema opens in Seattle! Having invested their resources in the correct priorities (screen, soundsystem, DCP), this new micro-theater offers an experience much like that of Seattle's Northwest Film Forum, and longest running indie theater, The Grand Illusion. Where they differ from other regional indies like SIFF Cinema, is superior repertory programming, thematic and conceptual series, and a challenging total disregard (in the best way) for genre constraints. Just look to their first week of free screenings for evidence of this. Expecting great things from the Criterion Collection and Alamo Drafthouse alumnus who dared to create this great new cultural space!

A lovely small independent theater that's worth checking out! I visited for the first night of their “Memorial Day Weekend Rip-Off Rampage” event. I always feel like a theater has earned its place in my heart when it introduces me to a film I loved that I never would have seen without it, and I can say with certainty that I would have never known about “Message from Space”, the Japanese knock-off/answer to Star Wars, without the Beacon Cinema. It was a fantastic movie in a fantastic space with a fantastic audience, and it was such a memorable time I'll be excited to visit again. The popcorn was also good

This is a great little theater, and I recommend going. Give them your business. That said, the AC unit they had made for a miserable viewing experience for a limited number of seats. DO NOT sit in back 3 rows of aisle seats or you will be blasted by the breath of Jack Frost himself for the entirety of your viewing experience. I kept praying it would shut off during the THREE HOUR runtime of Inland Empire, but no. I left the theater as an ice sculpture. Knowing what I know now, I still recommend going, but if you value yourself, do not sit in those six seats in front of the AC.

only been one time so far, was to see crash for the first time. man, this place is so so so charming, im in love. the owner who introduced the film at the beginning was beyond entertaining, honestly i had more fun in those couple of minutes than i did trying to make myself “get” cronenberg. even so, the chairs r so comfy, the decor is so thoughtful and sweet, the wine RULED, the film selection is excellent. i can’t get enough. i hope this place is standing until i die and long after. this place reminds me of everything i adore about film.

I recently premiered my short film in The Beacon Cinema and it was a wonderful experience for all us. The theater may be small but the quality of the sound and picture is top notch. The folks at the Beacon Cinema are true movie lovers and they have been extremely supportive and provided all the help to ensure that we have a successful premiere. If you are an independent film maker, look no further, Beacon is the best place to show your movie. Thank you all @ Beacon for creating a space like this and supporting independent cinema.

Great programming and the sound/projection is always good. The place feels modern and is all well kept, good drink selection too. Every time I have been there the crowd was a little rowdy which has turned me away going here (and also the transit but that’s not anything to do with the theater, just buses not running late on weekends). Some movie screenings I feel like I can expect a little rowdiness but it’s been every movie I’ve seen here. Not enough of a problem for it to ruin the movie for me though.

The films here are unique and ones I'd have otherwise never have seen in an intimate setting. The showings are diverse and always solid. The owner and staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Sometimes there are guest speakers who can discuss the making of the film. At times, there are non film events as well. One can also rent out the theater for private showings. There are various drinks and popcorn available as well. It can run a little cold at time in the theater, so layers are advisable.

Small art house theatre in Columbia City. The screen is small*, admittedly, but the Coming Soon shows great promise. We saw a lauded 1949 movie, Kind Hearts and Coronets, to give you an idea. Prices were as high as one would expect for a trip to the movies: expensive. They have craft beer and hard cider, if you enjoy that. *Small screen I would guess to be some 20 ft across. I did not have a tape measure.

I had some people recommend this place to me recently and even though it's a bit out of the way for me personally to get here it's definitely worth the trip. Great environment and basically every week they're showing something I'm very interested in checking out. It's a nice oppritunity to see something that isn't going to be at amc or streaming on the criterion channel.

Intimate indie single-screen movie theatre showing only the best fine movies as well as cult and pulp and rarely seen. Popcorn, some soda, and beer (some tap! and wine for sale. Owner's cool aternative music choices on display when films are not. Cosy. A reason to visit Columbia City, as if if there weren't already great reasins to visit, like The Royal Room for jazz.

Small but mighty! The Beacon plays a unique eclectic mix of films. From my experience a staff member provides greater context to the audience right before a film starts, which I absolutely love. However, this may only be the case for films that are part of their curated programs. It's small and intimate with a highly knowledgeable staff whose love for film radiates.

Recently checked out The Beacon, where they were showing a passionate, no-frills viewing of the film "Paris, Texas." The place itself is small, but so full of character (but the sound was impressive for the size of the theatre). Highly recommend choosing this spot if you enjoy watching "older" timeless films with a good beverage and a jug of popcorn.

A cool little single screen cinema. Serves beer, soda and popcorn. We went and saw Starcrash (a movie so bad it’s good) during their opening week when the tickets were free. The movies on offer in their first week were pretty hipster - Arthouse or old genre movies. Will be curious to see the admission price and the movie lineup going forward.

I love this cinema! I used to live over here and would come more often but I still try to make it out when I can. Always the sweetest folks working and the films that they play are always super curated and I’ve never been disappointed. I’ve found some of my new favorite films through this cinema. They are doing great work.

We rented this theater for our family to celebrate our daughter’s birthday. It was so much fun! The theater is so clean and beautiful. The staff did such a good job making sure everything was perfect and even had her favorite music playing when we arrived. The popcorn was delicious too! It was the perfect COVID safe activity.

Absolutely marvelous. We rented the theater to watch a private showing of MILDRED PIERCE (1945). Booking was super easy and the version of the film shown was brilliantly restored with incredible sound. I'd forgotten how great watching a film in the theater can be. The staff took care of every need with popcorn and booze.

I rented this place for a birthday party and what a fun day. The staff is super helpful and courteous. I asked if they could show a slideshow before the movie and they were happy to oblige. There was a good selection of beer and sodas. Such a great value for everything you get. I would definitely do this again.

We had an EXCELLENT time at the Beacon! We watched Wayne's World for my friends birthday. Not only was the viewing far out! It was totally safe. The person hosting the event had the soundtrack playing before and after the film! Game on for sure! I would recommend this awesome adventure to everyone! PARTY ON!

Rented the theater for a private family showing for my teenage twins' birthday. So clean, all you can each popcorn, great selection of films, and a bar for the grown-ups. The hostess was very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a bit of normalcy in a safe environment.

OMG we had so much fun watching Con-Air with our small group for my friends Birthday. Felicia was so nice even helping us with the door when our hands were full and keeping our buckets full of popcorn. I’ll definitely be booking again soon what a cool experience. Super clean and comfortable.

Absolutely the best movie theater in town. Great staff, fantastic movie selection, excellent beers on tap. Where else can you see awesome horror movies, foreign artist films, classic comedies and other genres all under the same roof? I’ve been tons of times and will be going again many more.

If you can’t take any more Marvel this is your spot. The only place in 20 years to reliably screen provocative, fun and interesting films I’m actually dying to see. Restore your faith leaving the house, in indie enterprise, in the movies, and in Seattle in general. Just a treasure. 10/10

Seattle is blessed with several great independent cinemas, but the Beacon is truly special. Great venue, great people, and outstanding viewing selections. Every month it's difficult narrowing down which of their showings to attend. If you love movies then please check the Beacon.

A landmark for film lovers in Seattle. My favorite indie theater as they show a great range of art-house, cult, mainstream, and classic films and movies. I rented out the theater for my birthday and it was such a lovely and homely experience. Cannot recommend this place enough!

I love Beacon! It's such a cozy little theater and the staff are always super friendly. The beer on tap usually includes from cloudburst and seapine, and there's also the ubiquitous Seattle classic, Rainier. I adore the Sunday anime matinees, so many classics from my childhood.

This place is already indispensable. They show tons of movies per month, have expertly curated and esoteric series (Haunted Light is so good!), and have terrific marketing. Not expensive for a movie theater in Seattle, either. I wish I lived closer so I could go every weekend.

We rented the theater to celebrate my husband's second pandemic birthday. The team was really responsive and great to work with in ensuring our movie of choice was available. The theater was clean and we felt like COVID protocols were well observed. Would highly recommend!

OH my goodness we had so much fun! We rented this yummy little theater to watch Yellow Submarine, and they even had the music playing for us from the soundtrack as we got our beers and popcorn. What a great idea! Definitely one of the times it is totally worth the money.

Would give 6/5 stars, but they don’t have an actual beacon. Seriously, what else do you want? Excellent programming, good beer/snack selections, and staff that know their business inside and out. These guys throw themselves heart and soul into the cinema, and it shows.

Cute, little, local, 1 room theater. Popcorn and drink prices are a bit high but if you do a private rental (seats 12 dyring COVID) you get unlimited popcorn and you can bring in outside snacks. Support a small business and have a movie night out with some friends.

Seattle is fortunate to have a handful of independent theaters, but for my money this is easily the best. The staff are all very kind and clearly care about film, the curation is top notch, parking is easy, and there are no bad seats, including the front row.

Great small theatre that shows lots of classic or lesser known films that you would never be able to see in a theatre anywhere else. They often do only one screening of a film that sells out so buy tickets online and show upearly if you want good seats.

You gotta go see a film here if you like to go watch a movie anywhere at all and you'd rather watch one where it's great instead of where it's really not great at all! Get some big popcorns and some tapped beer and get ready for a big surprise...

My go to spot for zany/avant guard films that you won’t see anywhere else. The owner’s/staff’s passion for movies is palpable. For better or worse, they always have an intro to the film. Popular films often sell out so buy your tickets ahead!

i really wanted to love this theater, but it was frigid cold inside the screening room and the seats are so tall that my feet didn’t touch the floor and i’m an average height woman. bad for the knees. i do wish them luck but i won’t be back.

Had one of movie screened and they were just so amazing in supporting us. They space was very well maintained and they made room for all our special requests. The staff were so courteous, helpful and kind. Definitely going back to them.

The Beacon is proof that movie magic still exists. Great independent theatre that screens films other theaters would not bother with. Curated by a great staff, you will enjoy every movie they screen even if you’ve never heard of it.

The exact kind of cultural institution that I was hoping to find in Seattle, the special event with Jon Bois and Alex Rubinstein abt the Mariners was amazing and I’m definitely going back for more screenings and movies.

So much fun to go here. Reminded me of going to the Varsity in the U-district on Thursday afternoons in the 90's for Hong Kong Double Features. Only smaller of course. But same vibe of cinema love. Support this place!

SO FUN!!!! Find a nice place to eat around the area either in beacon hill or Columbia city then catch a fun film here. I saw Faust here and they accompanied with an electronic keyboard and it was SO GOOD!!!

A non-commercial, impressive single screen cinema showcasing interesting films you won't find anywhere else, many belonging to the Criterion Collection. Seattle has needed this for a long time! Thank you!

They are showing the absolute best films here and it feels approachable how they organize films by theme and often have a video beforehand where someone from the staff introduces the film for you.

Awesome local place. Let us rent it out to do a birthday commemoration viewing for one of my close friends who passed. Played the movie we asked for, beer on tap and snacks. Would come back 100%

It was a great experience yesterday when we had our short film Premiere at Beacon Cinema. Staff was very friendly and helpful. They always served any requirement with a smile and flexibility.

My family and I had such a wonderful time. The theatre is a perfect size, clean and well cared for. The popcorn was poppin and the staff so helpful. Will definitely come back again and again

Not enough places like this curating great cinema, even pre-pandemic. The moves they’ve made to keep the reels rolling means so much. Great activity for your pod, plus tasty juice!

This is the most magical spot in Seattle! Perfect for film buffs and small business lovers. Great popcorn, natural wine offerings—AND available for private rentals. Favorite gem

A small theatre that shows a lot of older and indie films. Very quaint with good atmosphere and a humble theatre. Just saw Fantastic Planet there and it was a superb experience.

I really love the theater and the headlines of great movies, But it's always just too hot inside. The last two movies, we have left halfway thru because the heat was stifling.

I am glad this place survived the pandemic. I've watched this place evolve into a wonderful destination for film buffs. Buy tickets in advance because it sells out quickly.

It’s clear that they are passionate about film. The films they pick are unique and researched and awesome. Always feels like an authentic experience. Can’t wait to go back.

Exceptional film curation and passionate staff. I love how each showing comes with an introduction of the film by a staff member - it adds a wonderful personal touch!

Was in town on vacation and visited this cinema during its first opening week. Excellent film selection. Bought a commemorative t-shirt and watched Magic Mike XXL.

Best theater in Seattle. They play just the coolest stuff and you can tell they live and breathe movies and cinema. Truly one of the special places in this city.

Small movie theatre, rowdy crowd, amazing cult flick series, and geeky tongue-in-cheek introduction to the movies by a real movie theorist. Absolutely brilliant!

This place is amazing! Quirky / good movies, great people, and beer! I definitely want to make this a regular thing. Such a wonderful addition to Columbia City!

#1 cinema for hotties with big brains but seriously i love the movies, intros, books, and community ❤️ some of the best film programming seattle has to offer!

I had a great time here! The space was comfortable, clean, and inviting. The staff working there made sure we had a really fun time. I'm excited to go back!

It's like being in your living room with a group of friends. Plus the bathrooms are unisex! And the.popcorn has improved since my last visit. Yay!

CHARMING ! Small theater with comfortable seats and a large screen. If they had non gmo popcorn and butter, I would give it 5 stars.

I can't say enough good things about this theater. I'm so glad they moved into the neighborhood. I hope they stay a very long time

This place is great. Friendly employees, great selection of classic films, fun environment. Good drink selection of too

Fantastic theater! Superlative film choices, rad crew, awesome location! Shirts, bags and other merch are nailing it!

My favorite movie theater in Seattle! Every movie I’ve seen here has been amazing. Best popcorn in town!

Awesome little theater. This is a fantastic place to see the fun weird stuff you can't find elsewhere.

A true home for cinema. The beacon runs great programs and they have good beer. …

Nice cozy little theater with super nice employees/owners. So glad to have this in the neighborhood!

If you like Independent films, nische films, documentaries, Italian horror this is a place to go to!

The Beacon is one of my favorite movie theaters in the world. Cannot recommend this place enough.

A perfect, adorable little one screen independent theater. Cool, eclectic selection of films.

We love this theater and feel so lucky to have it in our community. It’s a rare treasure.

KILLER programming. Sweet staff. Great vibe. Coconut oil popcorn, yum!

Great curation of films and friendly staff. Great spot for date night

Great programing and a cool place. Looking forward to more movies!

A theater for true film lovers, owned and operated by geniuses.

Cool people, great theater. A wonderful part of the community.

Amazing experience, I had a great time. I will be coming back.

Nice neighborhood place. Great place for local get togethers.

By pretty much all metrics, the best theater in Seattle.

Great venue, great shows, great folks running the place!

One of the best curated independent cinemas in Seattle.

Inordinately good. Note to all: spend more time here.

Great environment, super friendly staff, loved it!

My mind is altered for the better with each visit.

Fabulous experience the bathrooms are luxurious

Cool little neighborhood cinema. Support them!

One of my new favorite places in the city

Superbly curated great space great beer.

Excellent addition to the neighborhood!

Great atmosphere and movie selection

A bit cramped. But it has character.

Movie theater run by communists !!!

We come to this place… for magic.

Best Rep theater in the city!

Very charming little theater!

Amazing wonderful theater

Comfortable place …