An IPS mode liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal cell, an optical film (F1) provided on a cell substrate on one side of the liquid crystal cell and comprises a polarizing plate comprising a transparent protective film having an in-plane retardation Re 10 nm or less and a thickness direction retardation Rth in the range of from 30 to 100 nm, a retardation film having an Nz value in the range of from 0.3 to 0.7 and an in-plane retardation Re.sub.1 in the range of from 200 to 300 nm, and an optical film (F2) provided on a cell substrate on the other side of the liquid crystal cell and comprises the polarizing plate and a retardation film having an Nz value in the range of from 0.9 to 1.2 and an in-plane retardation Re.sub.2 in the range of from 150 to 280 nm, and the absorption axes of the polarizing plates of the optical film (F1) and the optical film (F2) are perpendicular to each other, and both films are disposed so that the retardation film sides face the liquid crystal cell. The IPS mode liquid crystal display has a high contrast ratio across a wide range, and capable of realizing a better view.