An optical film stack is disclosed that includes a linear absorbing polarizer layer having a first polarizing transmission axis, a linear reflecting polarizer layer having a second polarizing transmission axis substantially parallel to the first polarizing transmission axis, and a retarder layer having an out-of-plane retardance value of 80 nanometers or more, or having an in-plane retardance value of 10 nanometers or greater and an out-of-plane retardance value greater than (0.6 times the in-plane retardance value). The retarder layer is disposed between the linear absorbing polarizer layer and the linear reflecting polarizer layer. A liquid crystal display including this optical film stack and methods of increasing on-axis contrast ratio of a liquid crystal display utilizing this optical film stack are also disclosed.