An object of the present invention is to provide an optical film capable of contributing to reduction in thickness, preventing uneven heating, and favorably preventing light leak in black display, and an image display apparatus using such an optical film. An optical film of the present invention includes a polarizer, a first optical compensation layer having a refractive index profile of nx>ny=nz, and a second optical compensation layer having a refractive index profile of nx>ny>nz in the stated order. In the optical film, an angle formed between an absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the first optical compensation layer is +17° to +27° or −17° to −27°, an angle formed between the absorption axis of the polarizer and a slow axis of the second optical compensation layer is +85° to +95°, and an Nz coefficient of the second optical compensation layer is 1.2≦Nz≦2.