To provide an optical film having a high contrast ratio over a wide range and capable of suppressing color shift, a method for manufacturing such an optical film, an optically compensatory film using the optical film, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display device.

The optical film satisfies the formula (1): 150Re(550)400, the formula (2): -100Rth(550)100, the formula (3): 0.1Re(450)/Re(550)0.95, the formula (4): 1.03Re(650)/Re(550)1.93, the formula (5): 0.4(Re(450)/Rth(450))/(Re(550)/Rth(550))0.95, and the formula (6): 1.05(Re(650)/Rth(650))/(Re(550)/Rth(550))1.90, wherein Re(450), Re(550) and Re(650) are in-plane retardation values (unit: nm) measured with light having wavelengths of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm, respectively, and Rth(450), Rth(550) and Rth(650) are through-thickness retardation values (unit: nm) measured with light having wavelengths of 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm, respectively.