Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal cell in which a twisted nematic liquid crystal is interposed between a pair of transparent electrodes disposed opposite to each other, a pair of polarizers, an optically compensating element having a maximum refractive index in a direction in the plane thereof, and a thin film having a maximum refractive index in the direction of the thickenss thereof, the optically compensating element and the thin film being interposed between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizer so as to substantially satisfy specific conditions. This liquid crystal display device offers an improved viewing angle and is advantageously used in a black and white liquid crystal display.