A color cathode ray tube includes a faceplate and a phosphor screen provided on the inner surface of the faceplate and including red, green, and blue phosphor layers. A color filter layer is interposed between the inner surface of the faceplate and the phosphor screen. The color filter layer includes color filters opposed individually to the phosphor layers of the phosphor screen and having colors corresponding thereto. Color filters of each color have a higher transmittance for light beams with wavelengths which are in a range of .+-.20 nm of the maximum emission spectrum wavelength of the phosphor layers of the corresponding color than for light beams with wavelengths which are outside the range and which are between 400 nm and 650 nm. A common outside filter for complementing the light absorption properties of the color filters is provided on the outer surface of the faceplate and has a maximum absorption in a predetermined wavelength which is outside the maximum emission spectrum wavelengths of the red, green, and blue phosphor layers.