Came back to see the new Superman movie and had a good time. It was pretty busy with most seats purchased but we got spots and popcorn/drinks (large for both) Girl at the counter on a Wednesday night were really nice and quick to help. They definitely better ticket prices than most places and I love that they do movies in the green, and the kids summer camp movies as well! Really awesome local place and hope it sticks around!! read more

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If you buy a back row seat expect little leg room, but that's the trade off for cowering behind everyone else watching the movie. This is the BEST theater in the country (undisputed). Would never go to another theater so long as I live, the Lumina will always hold a special place in my heart whether it be due to the responsive and easy to talk to management or the delicious pizzas and pretzels served at concessions. read more

I want to talk about the website. Carolina theater has completely made finding what's playing impossible without either buying gift card or accepting their cookies. the theater itself is top notch read more

Adorable theater with great prices! Wish the seats reclined, but they were still very comfy!

This is a neat, intimate theater to go to if they are playing your favorite movie. We came here to see Dog Man, and I loved how cozy it felt inside. The decor was fitting of a small movie theater, and they had a small but robust concession area. I loved how clean it was inside. The bathrooms were between the concessions and theater areas. I will definitely return to watch movies in the future. read more

This is a great place to watch a movie. It's not overly busy and the seats are super comfy. The staff is so nice and helpful. I really love being able to walk to the theatre from where I live. But there's plenty of parking if you drive. The prices are reasonable too and of course they have the usual tasty snacks. I had my choice of seats which I appreciated. What's cool about this place is you can walk around after the movie or get something to eat in the square. Check out the Tuesday special I've taken a picture of. read more

The Lumina Theater - Look at the special - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Love this place - very friendly staff and comfortable seating. Hosted a kids birthday party here and it was so much fun. Always my go to movie spot. read more

Safe, clean. We always choose the Lumina for movies. They offer reduced tickets on Tuesdays and give senior citizen discounts. You can grab a burger and fries and a gelato at Southern Village as well! read more

I came here pre-pandemic when they were about to close down due to slow business. They were showing all 8 Harry Potter movies for about 2 weeks on discounted prices (only $5!) as sort of a celebration for the theater before they closed. You could even go in for free if you dressed up in HP costume! I wore my Ravenclaw scarf and got to see half of them back-to-back for free. Because I went during the day time, I was often the only person in the theater for mamy of the movies. That was one of the best weeks of my life and so I only have fond memories of this place. Glad they didnt end up shutting down! read more

The Lumina Theater - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Always support local business! I've always preferred traditional style theaters. They've since remodeled but it retains the quaint and nostalgic appearance from long ago. It's never overcrowded so you're usually not going to have problems with inconsiderate dolts yapping. They also have $5.50 tickets on Tuesdays and also Thursdays if you're a UNC employee. Great price, clean theater, friendly staff. Go! read more

I recently relocated to this neighborhood, and this theater is easily accessible nearby. On a Tuesday, I decided to take a chance. Every Tuesday, all movies are $5 for the entire day! That is quite impressive! I haven't spent that much money on a movie since the 1990s. The theater appears to be modern! The seats were brand new and quite comfortable! I liked how the sound system wasn't too loud. The workers were friendly and helpful. The only drawback is the popcorn. To me, it tasted old and burned. Overall, great value! read more

We had just had dinner nearby on a Tuesday evening and weren't even considering seeing a movie but when I looked hem up online, we found out that Tuesdays are their reduced price night. They were showing a movie we were interested in so we bought two tickets (no refreshments since we just had dinner). The theater was clean and barely attended on Tuesday night. It was weird after the movie because we stepped out and didn't see any employees around at all. This isn't very close to our house but if we'd consider seeing another movie here, especially on a night with reduced tickets. read more

Went here to watch barbie. the snack prices were outrageous. Not worth it the seats were comfy though. A bit cold but alright theatre

Lumina is a great little hidden gem! Comfortable, clean, with a great range of adult beverages and hot popcorn. The new Tap Room is awesome and a great addition to Southern Village. I love being able to watch outdoor movie nights in the summer! It's easy to find, and there is tons of free parking around. read more

Small theatre. Only has 5 screens. They sell beverage for adults as well as concessions that consist of popcorn and your usuals. On certain weekends they have movies on the lawn. It's so nice to watch the movies under the moon. Great experience at the Lumina. Also be sure to catch them early as they close at 10 on weekends. read more

The Lumina Theater - Nice interior. Love the stringers up top - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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If you live in Chapel Hill you are probably a fan of Lumina. It's a small cute theatre in Southern Village but much nicer than the option on Franklin St. and much closer than going all the way to AMC in Southpoint. You will mostly find local people, teenagers and families here this is a family neighborhood. There are only four rooms with different movies and screenings showing. You can buy popcorn and a few other snacks from commissary, not too expensive neither too cheap. What I love the most is the open-air cinema screen on Summer. Movies are PG but you can order some pizza from Pazzio and enjoy a nice evening with a good movie. The best of all is that tickets are also cheaper for this kind of showing. Gotta love Lumina. read more

Great neighborhood theater. It gets a couple of points off for occasionally ancient popcorn, but the other concessions are good, the price is right ($6.50/$8.50), and the seats are comfortable. A worthy alternative to the zoo at Southpoint, if you're looking for first-run movies. The Lumina also shows movies outside on the Village Green in the summer for $4--great for families. In February, they'll be hosting the indy Blue Sky Film Festival (www.blueskyfilmfest.com), which helps support The Arc of Orange County. This nonprofit serve people with developmental disabilities. Good job, Lumina! read more

The Lumina Theater - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I hadn't been to the Lumina but once or twice since moving to Hillsborough in 2004, but remembered it fondly... and got to go again last week. This is the place where we didn't mind standing in line for opening night movies - whether Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, this is where we always went... and were never disappointed. While it does look a little more 'worn' than it once did, I have to admit it is still MUCH better than dealing with the parking issues at Southpoint, It's stadium seating remains comfortable, and the sound system is still pretty doggone good (IMHO). read more

I had not heard of it before my girlfriend and I went to watch a movie there last night. Small place that is tucked back in a neighborhood but definitely a better value than your typical expensive, big theaters. Had a family feel to it and is was cheaper than most theaters, especially around here, which is key for college students like myself. I really enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend trying it out! read more

I really love going to the Lumina. They're ticket prices are not sky high like other theaters. They give 50 cent refills on popcorn. Any size. I've never had a movie sell out and I couldn't catch it. They offer a few beers and wines. During the week they support the restaurants in Southern Village... if you eat at a restaurant in SV, bring your receipt, then you get a discounted ticket for that night. I love the movies on the lawn. The staff is pleasant most of the time. My only cons: They do close early during the winter/week. Usually not a problem, however on occassion they have closed the concessions while the 7:00 movies are still showing. So no refills, no extra snacks. The staff was just eh so so apologetic about it. Not a huge deal to me, but try telling a thirsty 10yr old she can't get a bottled water. Also, the movies on the lawn are great, but there tends to be technical difficulties quite often. Plus some summer nights they do not start the movie late enough and the first 20 minutes or so you can not see the screen due to the sun glare. read more

I love this theater!! always been a good experience when i've gone, and staff are always as friendly as possible

When I want to see a new movie, I wouldn't go anywhere else but here. The atmosphere here is comfortable, the staff is friendly, and the theater quality is top notch. Plus, it's within walking distance of other Southern Village staples like La Vita Dolce, Al's Burger Shack, Pazzo's, Weaver Street Market, and more! Perhaps what makes the Lumina really stand out is on summer nights, they screen movies outside on the village green. AMC doesn't do that! Come and give the Lumina some love! read more

The attendants there are not friendly and they have an attitude. You can tell they are minimum wage workers. Will look for a different movie venue than this place next time. read more

I have only seen one film at the Lumina, on two separate occasions. That film happened to be "Inception", but that's not the point right now, though it is an awesome movie. One of those was inside the theater, which is quite the impressive theater: the hand rests can be repositioned up, which is always good. Furthermore the seats are also highly comfortable, and the theater itself is well kept. The other time was outside, as part of their summer movie series. This is quite awesome: showing new movies outside during the summer at night. Overall, the Lumina is a great theater, and probably the best showing first-run films in Chapel Hill (its only competition on this is Timberlyne, so it's not saying much, but still). The price is right, the seats are nice, and the experience is great. read more

You can't beat the Lumina for a convenient, clean, reasonably priced movie experience. The ticket and concession prices are substantially lower than the chains, and parking is much more convenient than Southpoint. Plus they have wine and local beer on tap. I've been going here since it opened (12, 13 years ago?) and most of the Yelp reported issues are simple misunderstandings. 1. The ticket window wasn't open so I had to wait. Answer: Some nights they don't staff the ticket window, but there's always 2 concession and 1 beer line open where you can buy tickets. I normally don't have to wait more than 5 minutes. 2. The sound and/or audio were not good. Answer: The digital projectors are almost new and the surround sound equipment is good. Remember that the place is staffed by high school students who don't know what audio levels you want for the movie. If the picture isn't in focus or the sound is too loud or too soft, just go tell someone so they can fix it. 3. The line was out the door and I had to wait in line outside. Answer: Ticket sales at chain theaters are all outdoors these days, so it's not any worse than Southpoint. Like any theater, the busy time is 7-8pm, and if you show up on a Friday/Saturday night on a big opening weekend there will be lines. read more

Bf and I wanted to hit up a local theater for The Great Gatsby, so we decided to try out Lumina. Pros: - Local theater - $7 student tickets - whoop, whoop! - LOCAL BEER! $6 for 16 oz. and $8 for 24 oz. There's wine, too. I think another review mentioned they don't let you try the beer, but I did not find that to be true; the woman who helped us was happy to let me taste before I committed to the Oatmeal Porter. Cons: Really just one major con that makes the theater a three star "A-OK." The sound system! It's tragic. Good thing we sat in the first few rows because while the theater is stacked with surround sound speakers, nothing comes out of them. I only heard sound from directly in front of me, which was not okay in the beginning, when it was pretty quiet. I could hear wrappers crinkling and people whispering. Thank goodness the film is noisy, but man oh man... sound is a big part of going to a theater for me, so that's going to make us think a bit before choosing to come here again. However, we are excited to try out the $4 movies on the lawn this summer! read more

For a regular movie theatre (not indie), this place is so much better than facing the crowds at Southpoint. It only has six screens so runs aren't as long and they won't get every single movie coming through, but it's still a digital projection theater. Snacks, though still pricey compared the store, are a lot cheaper than Southpoint too. It gets crowded and frequently sells out on weekends, but you can buy tickets online with NO FEE! They even let you buy special tickets, like college student or senior, unlike most other theaters. The discount for college students is pretty decent, last time I checked -- I think $6.50 in the evening (at least that's what it used to be in when I was in school). Finally, in the summers, they have movies on the lawn every Friday and Saturday. For only $3 per person you can come bring lawn chairs or blankets and watch a movie projected onto the huge screen and lawn right in front of the theater. They have a variety of slightly older new releases, kids movies, even some classics. Get some beer at Weaver Street and a pizza from Pazzo's Pizza (all on the main Southern Village circle, like The Lumina) and enjoy an evening of cheap entertainment. The only downside is this theater is frequented by (sometimes annoying) packs of Southern Village teenagers, but I guess it's like that at most movie theaters anyway. read more

Great theatre in Chapel Hill. Cheap and clean. Seen about 4 movies here, one outdoors. Saw HP7 here for $6.50 this past sat. After the movie, a theatre employee dressed up as Harry (with a striking resemblance to HP) came in sitting on his broom--a great personal touch. Go here for just released new movies and to Varsity Theatre (four bucks) for movies that have been out for over a couple months. Read the rest of the reviews for more details. read more

We had to stop going to this theater after it hit rock bottom in neglect last year. The theater we were in had a large tear in the screen - in the middle - and one sound channel kept going out every few minutes. When we contacted the management we were told that, "yeah, it happens all the time" and they might get around to fixing the sound, but not the screen. So, be warned, they have no problem charging premium prices for a ripped screen and broken sound when they clearly know about the problems. Shame on them. read more

The big thing for me here is that its only $6 for student tickets on weekday evenings. Hard to find that these days, so major claps for that. Other than that, it seems like a pretty run of the mill movie theatre, which I've no problem with. The sound seemed fine, the picture was good, and there are concessions I can't really afford (beer is like $5 or $6, as is wine). It's neat that they do outdoor screenings of movies that are already on DVD during the summer, though I've never been. There's no real reason I didn't give it five stars. Just don't really see a good reason to give five stars either, read more

Awesome little theater! They serve beer and wine... always a plus! There are five screens, so limited selection. Prices are fair. Overall, it's always a fun experience. read more

Taking in a flick at the Lumina is a huge relief from heading to a lot of the crowded, giant gigaplexes that you can find around here. Maybe it's because Southern Village isn't exactly a destination for a lot of people, or maybe people just prefer fighting through packs of high schoolers texting each other even though they're right next to the recipient of the text. Either way, you'll get your stadium seating without most of the hassle that comes from the big spots. The downside is that the Lumina won't always have what you're looking for. With only a few screens, trying to keep a healthy mix of big commercial flicks and the slightly more artsy-flavored movies means the juggling act won't always be precise. But if they have what you want, it's probably worth the little bit of extra driving to see it at the Lumina. Summer nights, grab a chair and a cooler of whatever to see one of the movies on the lawn. It's $3, outside, and kind of a fun atmosphere for a movie. read more

I decided to check out the Lumina, as its local to Chapel Hill, is a smaller theater with good reviews so far, and the main attraction: serves beer and wine. This is no Alamo Drafthouse - but it definitely has pleasant things about it that make it a great theater to go get a brew and catch a flick! - Its not freezing - It doesn't smell funny - They serve beer from the Carolina Brewery (but don't let you sample) - Movies on the lawn looks fun (and you can BYOB!) There are a couple of downsides - the screens are a little dated, so if you're into the 3D thing, you won't find it there. Actually, you might not find HD quality pictures there, either. You will, however, be able to catch a movie within its opening week without fighting a ginormous crowd that you'd find at your typical movie megaplex. read more

We enjoyed our trip to the Lumina to see 'Harry Potter 7.5' last week. It was a breath of fresh air compared to soulless multiplexes we typically go to. The prices were reasonable, the seating comfortable, the presence of beer welcome, the staff quite charming, parking a breeze (I wanted to say 'a doddle', but my hubby said no one would understand me if I did). What's more, the entire audience clapped at the end of the movie. This may have been more a function of HP 7.5 than the theatre... but then again, the Lumina seems like the kind of place where people might actually put their hands together in appreciation. Jolly good show, in more ways than one. read more

Finally got a chance to see Eclipse. It came out the day we were moving so it has been on hold. Hubby is a trooper as he actually has a bumper sticker on his car that says "Twilight Mom" that he hasn't removed since he got my hand me down car! After reading the Yelp reviews I picked this venue because I don't like megaplexes and hadn't made it down to this part of town. I love the town square feel and they were playing Iron Man 2 on the lawn. It wasn't exactly bustling and would be nice to have more businesses open for pre and post movie though. This was a very clean and comfortable place to see a movie. The auditoriums are fairly small but with stadium seating you get a good view regardless of where you sit. No stickiness on the floors or wads of chewing gum under the arm rests. The flow getting into the theater was a bit slow with only one ticket booth open. Would definitely go back next time I get to the movies with hubs. Based on our track record since having kids it might be another 5 years though. read more

Such a cute theatre. When you don't want to drive to an IMAX but really want to see a movie, this theatre is great. We went to see Jurassic World here, and Inside Out. We enjoyed our experience both times. Matinee is just $7.50, but they apparently have outdoor movies some nights for $5, and I want to go to one of those! It's very cute inside and the Seats are fairly comfortable. Customer service has been good both times we have been as well. read more

The Lumina Theater - Adorable movie! - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

This is one of best hidden gems around the area. Staff is extremely service oriented, professional and kind. The theater itself is immaculate. Granted it's not the IMAX 70 ft screen but this is one cozy little place to see a movie in an intimate setting. Also, in a plaza with some good places to stop to eat before and after. Parking was not a problem at all. Wells Fargo ATM right in the parking lot. 5 Stars!!! read more

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Oh, I love the Lumina. I live about a block from the theater at Timberlyne, but I'd still rather make the drive out to Southern Village to see a movie here. Tickets are a little cheaper than at Southpoint, $8 for adults and $6 for students/senior citizens. The Lumina shows most of the big blockbusters, with some interesting, less mainstream movies thrown in, as well. It also has stadium seating and all the amenities of a much larger theater. The $3 Movies on the Green events during the summer are a lot of fun, as well. read more

The Lumina Theater - Lumina Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I love the Lumina! It's a great place to go to beat the usual movie crowds. It feels cleaner, more modern and generally better kept than your average small/indy movie theatre. (They take credit cards, too!) Their movie selection obviously isn't as vast as a super-mega-crazy-cineplex, but if you already know what you want to see before you get there, it's no problem. I highly recommend it. read more

Popcorn at this place is not really bad, nor good. It's just adequate. It's neutral, inert, flavor-free. As a starch platform for butter it would probably work, but I don't like to eat butter on little bits of cardboard. I'd mindlessly toss it into my mouth as I do at movies, but halfway through the bag, I'd realize that I was eating bad-tasting nonfood and I'd miss the movie for my overwhelming feeling of regret. It's not like I haven't complained before. For years, I've been asking them to seriously, honestly, soul-searchingly study the popcorn's taste and see if maybe it isn't time to get a new supplier. I live around the corner. I want to love The Lumina! It's my neighborhood theatre. Tonight when I talked to the manager again about how disappointing the popcorn was, he didn't even get out of his seat or offer a response. Just told me that that's the way it is. Another time the manager said I wasn't the first to complain and gave me a pass for free popcorn the next time. Thanks for more bad popcorn. I'm thinking popcorn should not be so distractingly tasteless that I drive across town to Timberlyne to get better popcorn, but it is. I've gotten to know Timberlyne better, and am finding that plain popcorn is a thing and it tastes good. Popcorn is not just a butter and salt delivery system; it can taste like light crisp corn. I'm not going back to The Lumina and it's my loss. However, I see a lot of movies, weekly, maybe, and I like unbuttered popcorn with my movies. Driving to Timberlyne is worth it to avoid that sinking feeling of just having tried and failed to enjoy expensive bland popcorn. read more