The disclosure discloses a liquid crystal antenna, including a first substrate and a second substrate which are oppositely arranged and a liquid crystal layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein a first metal film layer is arranged on one side, facing the second substrate, of the first substrate, a second metal film layer is arranged on one side, facing the first substrate, of the second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate are rigid substrates, a seed layer is arranged between the first substrate and the first metal film layer, and a seed layer is arranged between the second substrate and the second metal film layer. The disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal antenna, the seed layers are firstly manufactured on the surfaces of the substrates, and then the corresponding metal film layers are formed on the seed layers through plating, so that the thicknesses of the metal film layers can reach the µm grade, and the performance of the liquid crystal antenna is ensured. The problems of repeated plating, low efficiency, serious thermal deformation and the like in the vacuum magnetron sputtering process are avoided, the adhesion between the metal film layers and the substrates is strong, and the liquid crystal antenna which can be manufactured on a large scale at low cost is provided.