Disclosed herein are water-soluble films including a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) resin When the PVOH copolymer are selected with regard to various criteria related to physical and chemical film properties, the resulting water-soluble film formed from the PVOH resin blend exhibits maintained film stiffness, and pouch tautness when in contact with liquid pouch contents, maintain acceptable clarity properties, and/or demonstrates acceptable band release without impairing the ultimate solubility of the water-soluble film.