A multilayer optical film includes a wave plate having a refractive index profile of n.sub.x>n.sub.y.gtoreq.n.sub.z and a fluoropolymer film comprising a moiety of ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are each independently hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, substituted alkyl groups, or halogens, wherein at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 is a fluorine atom, wherein R is each independently a substituent on the styrenic ring, n is an integer from 0 to 5 representing the number of the substituents on the styrenic ring, and wherein n.sub.x and n.sub.y represent in-plane refractive indices and n.sub.z the thickness-direction refractive index of the wave plates; wherein said multilayer optical film has a positive in-plane retardation (R.sub.e) and an out-of-plane retardation (R.sub.th) that satisfies the equation of |R.sub.th|