You know that specific smell of movie theater popcorn that hits you the second the automatic doors slide open? It’s salty, buttery, and honestly, a little bit nostalgic. If you’re living in or passing through the Columbia Basin, that scent usually leads you straight into Fairchild Cinemas Moses Lake. It isn’t just some generic multiplex that popped up in a parking lot. It’s basically the heartbeat of local entertainment in a town where, let’s be real, your options for a Friday night out are sometimes a little limited.
Most people just call it the "Fairchild." Since it opened its doors at the Moses Lake Cinema 10 location, it has sort of redefined what people expect from a small-town movie experience. We aren't talking about those squeaky, cramped folding chairs from the nineties. We’re talking about a massive shift toward luxury that happened right when everyone thought streaming services were going to kill the theater industry for good.
The Shift to Luxury at Fairchild Cinemas Moses Lake
Back in the day, going to the movies in Moses Lake was a pretty standard affair. You sat in a dark room, hoped the person in front of you wasn't too tall, and tried not to get your shoes stuck to the floor. When Fairchild took over and renovated the space, they leaned hard into the "premium" vibe.
The biggest game-changer? The power recliners.
It sounds like a small thing, but once you’ve watched a three-hour Marvel epic or the latest Scorsese flick in a heated leather recliner that lets you lay almost flat, you can’t really go back to regular seating. It’s ruined me, honestly. These aren't just seats; they’re basically La-Z-Boys that someone decided to put in a theater. At the Moses Lake location, they managed to cram in these massive chairs without making the rows feel suffocating.
Why the Dolby Atmos Setup Actually Matters
You’ll see the signs for Dolby Atmos and DTS-X all over the lobby. Most people ignore them. They think, "Whatever, it’s just loud speakers." But if you’re a bit of a tech nerd, you know that the sound design at Fairchild Cinemas Moses Lake is actually a step above the standard regional theater.
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Dolby Atmos doesn't just blast sound at you from the front and sides. It treats sounds as "objects." If a helicopter flies overhead on screen, the sound literally moves across the ceiling speakers. It creates this 360-degree bubble. In a town like Moses Lake, having access to that level of audio engineering is a big deal. It’s the difference between watching a movie and actually feeling the floor vibrate when an explosion happens.
More Than Just Popcorn: The Snack Bar Situation
Let's talk about the food. Usually, theater food is a rip-off. It’s overpriced candy and soda that's 90% ice. While the prices at Fairchild aren't exactly "cheap," the quality is weirdly high for a cinema.
They do the standard stuff, sure. But they also have an expanded menu that includes things like chicken strips, fries, and actual meals. It’s become a bit of a thing for families to just eat dinner while they watch the movie.
- The popcorn is consistently fresh because they have high turnover.
- They offer a variety of seasonings—though the classic butter is still king.
- The self-serve soda fountains (the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines) mean you can create whatever weird Cherry-Vanilla-Lime concoction you want.
Honestly, the staff there deserves a shout-out. Moses Lake is a tight-knit community, and you often see the same high school kids or college students working the counters for years. There's a level of friendliness you don't get in the giant AMC or Regal chains in Seattle or Spokane.
Local Impact and the Moses Lake Community
Fairchild Cinemas is a regional chain, owned by the Fairchild family out of Pasco. Because they are "local" to the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas, they tend to care more about the specific needs of the Moses Lake community.
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They do sensory-friendly screenings. This is a huge win for parents of kids with autism or sensory processing issues. The lights stay up a little, the sound is turned down, and nobody cares if a kid needs to get up and move around. It's that kind of inclusivity that makes a business a staple rather than just a storefront.
Then you’ve got the winter months. If you’ve spent a January in Moses Lake, you know it’s freezing. There isn't a lot to do outdoors when the wind is whipping off the lake at twenty miles per hour. The theater becomes a sanctuary. It’s warm, it’s dark, and for two hours, you can forget that you have to go out and scrape the ice off your windshield later.
What Most People Get Wrong About Showtimes
I see people complaining on Facebook or Reddit all the time about showtimes being "limited." Here’s the reality: Fairchild Cinemas Moses Lake has ten screens. That sounds like a lot, but when you have three different blockbusters out at once, plus a few indie films and the leftovers from the previous month, space gets tight.
If you want the best seats, you have to use the app. People still try to walk up to the box office five minutes before Avatar or Star Wars starts and then get mad when they’re stuck in the very front row staring at the actors' nostrils.
Pro Tip: Book your seats at least 24 hours in advance for Friday and Saturday nights. The "Reserved Seating" system means your seat is locked in. You can show up right as the trailers start and not worry about some teenager sitting in your spot.
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The Technical Specs: Screen Quality
There’s a lot of debate about whether digital projection has "lost the soul" of film. Maybe. But at the Fairchild, the 4K digital projection is crisp. You don't get the scratches or the flickering you used to see ten years ago.
The screens are maintained well. I’ve been to theaters in larger cities where there are visible stains or tears on the projection surface, which is incredibly distracting during bright scenes. I haven’t run into that here. The maintenance crew seems to stay on top of the technical side of things, ensuring the bulbs are bright enough—nothing is worse than a dim 3D movie.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
If you're planning a trip to Fairchild Cinemas Moses Lake, don't just wing it.
- Sign up for the Rewards Program: It’s free. You get points for every dollar you spend. Eventually, you get free popcorn or tickets. If you go once a month, it pays for itself pretty quickly.
- Check for Matinees: The early bird catches the discount. Ticket prices jump significantly after 4:00 PM. If you can catch a 1:00 PM showing on a Sunday, you’ll save enough for a large drink.
- Tuesday Specials: Keep an eye on their "Value Tuesday" promotions. Usually, tickets are cheaper across the board, though some "special engagement" films might be excluded.
- The Parking Lot: It can be a nightmare during a big release. If you're going to a 7:00 PM show on a Friday, park further back toward the other shops. Trying to get out of the spots right in front of the door is a test of patience you don't need after a relaxing movie.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
We live in an age where you can watch a movie on your phone while sitting on the bus. People said the "theater experience" was dying. But you can't replicate the scale of a Fairchild screen in your living room. You can't replicate the communal laugh of a hundred people at a comedy or the collective gasp during a horror movie jump-scare.
Fairchild Cinemas Moses Lake has survived because it focused on the experience rather than just the movie. By investing in the recliners, the sound systems, and the food, they made it an "event" again. It’s not just about seeing a story; it’s about getting out of the house and being part of the world for a bit.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Outing
To ensure you actually have a good time and don't end up frustrated, follow this checklist:
- Download the Fairchild Cinemas App. It is significantly faster than the website and stores your digital tickets so you don't have to print anything.
- Arrive 15 minutes early. Even with reserved seating, the lines for the concession stand can get long, and you don't want to miss the opening scene because you were waiting for a Diet Coke.
- Check the Rating. It sounds obvious, but Moses Lake is a family town. R-rated movies have strict ID checks here. Don't show up without your license and expect them to "let it slide."
- Join the Loyalty Club before you buy tickets. Do this today, even if you aren't going until next week. The points start racking up immediately.
- Explore the "Extra" content. Sometimes they run Fathom Events—old classics, opera performances, or live sports. These are often hidden at the bottom of the showtime list but offer a totally different vibe than the latest blockbuster.
Stop settling for Netflix on a Tuesday night. Go support the local cinema, grab a bucket of popcorn, and remember why we fell in love with movies in the first place.