To provide a method for producing in a short reaction process and efficiently a 2-phenylacetophenone derivative, which has been difficult to produce industrially by the conventional method, using a raw material which is industrially available in easy and at low cost.

In a method for producing the 2-phenylacetophenone derivative represented by formula (I) (wherein, R1 is a haloalkyl, and R2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or an alkyl which may be substituted), the method characterized in that an acrylonitrile derivative represented by formula (II) (wherein, R1 and R2 are the same as above) are hydrolyzed in the presence of an inorganic acid and a solvent, and decarbonated.