A liquid crystal display is provided which comprises a front panel comprising a front alignment layer having an alignment direction, a rear panel comprising a rear alignment layer having an alignment direction, and a liquid crystal layer between the front and rear alignment layers. The liquid crystal layer has a rotational twist angle of about 90.degree. and a pre-tilt angle of not more then 2.degree.. The alignment, material and thickness of the liquid crystal layer are such that at the mid-point of the rotational twist, the direction of liquid crystal directors coincide with an off-normal viewing direction of the liquid crystal display.