An organic EL element is formed having a crystalline CuPc film as a positive hole injection layer and a positive hole transport layer, a luminescent layer, an electron transport layer and an electron injection layer, composed of amorphous organic materials, laminated between a pair of electrodes, wherein the change in the diffraction peak value of the CuPc film appearing with X-ray diffraction, which is produced by heating in the utilization temperature range of the organic EL element, is within .+-.25% of the diffraction peak value before heating. The organic EL element comprising a crystalline organic material is resistant to current shorts and leaks and exhibits satisfactory luminance properties in the utilization temperature range.