An optical film, which includes a laminate of a base and a birefringent
layer, and which is excellent in adhesiveness between the base and the
birefringent layer, is provided. The birefringent layer is formed on the
base by: coating a material of the birefringent layer on the base so as
to form a coating film; stretching/shrinking the base so as to
stretch/shrink the coating film; and solidifying the material of the
coating film. The material is dispersed or dissolved previously in a
solvent and coated in a form of solution, where the solvent used exhibits
solubility with respect to the base, and in the coating step, the solvent
is infiltrated into a part of the interior of the base, thereby obtaining
an optical film with excellent adhesiveness between the base and the
birefringent layer.