Cineworld, the UK’s largest cinema operator, posted a drop in profits today but admitted a Harry Potter-inspired turnaround was already under way.

Prior to the launch of the final instalment of the boy wizard series, half-year revenues rose 1% to £163.6m after fewer blockbuster and 3D releases impacted on average ticket prices and the amount spent on cinema visits.

With sharply higher finance charges and one-off items, Cineworld’s profits fell to £6.9m from £11.8m in the half year to June.

The group, which has 78 sites and more than 800 screens, increased its market share in UK and Ireland slightly to 26.4%, from which it expects to generate healthy revenues from a string of potential blockbuster film releases over the rest of the year.

The final instalment of the Harry Potter series, Deathly Hallows: Part 2, has already taken £65m industry wide since its launch last month.

With a new film in the Transformers series and Cars 2 also released, Cineworld said the second half had started "very well".