A projector includes an area light source, a spatial light modulator, an illumination system that receives light from the area light source and illuminates the spatial light modulator, and a projection lens that forms an image by the light from the spatial light modulator. The illumination system includes an optical member having a cuboid shape and including an entrance plane and an exit plane, the optical member being arranged so that the entrance plane faces the area light source, and the optical member forming, on the exit plane, an illuminance distribution having a higher illuminance at a peripheral portion than at a central portion. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with the light from the exit plane.