A method for producing an optical film, the method comprising: forming an applied film by applying a material containing a non-liquid crystalline material with a birefringence (Δnxz) in a thickness direction thereof, represented by the following formula, of 0.0007 or more directly on a shrinkable film; and forming a birefringence layer having a refractive index distribution that satisfies nx > nz > ny by shrinking the applied film through shrinking the shrinkable film, Δ ⁢ nxz = nx ′ − nz ′ nx': in a case where the non-liquid crystalline material is solidified so as to be a solidified layer, a refractive index in a direction (a slow axis direction) in which an in-plane refractive index of the solidified layer reaches its maximum, nz': a refractive index in a thickness direction of the solidified layer that is orthogonal to each of an nx' direction and a direction (a fast axis direction) that is orthogonal to the nx' direction within a plane of the solidified layer, nx: a refractive index in a direction (a slow axis direction) in which an in-plane refractive index of the birefringence layer reaches its maximum, ny: a refractive index in a direction (a fast axis direction) that is orthogonal to an nx direction within a plane of the birefringence layer, and nz: a refractive index in a thickness direction of the birefringence layer that is orthogonal to each of the nx direction and an ny direction, wherein in the forming of the birefringence layer, the shrinkable film is shrunk by heating the shrinkable film. forming an applied film by applying a material containing a non-liquid crystalline material with a birefringence (Δnxz) in a thickness direction thereof, represented by the following formula, of 0.0007 or more directly on a shrinkable film; and forming a birefringence layer having a refractive index distribution that satisfies nx > nz > ny by shrinking the applied film through shrinking the shrinkable film, Δ ⁢ nxz = nx ′ − nz ′ nx': in a case where the non-liquid crystalline material is solidified so as to be a solidified layer, a refractive index in a direction (a slow axis direction) in which an in-plane refractive index of the solidified layer reaches its maximum, nz': a refractive index in a thickness direction of the solidified layer that is orthogonal to each of an nx' direction and a direction (a fast axis direction) that is orthogonal to the nx' direction within a plane of the solidified layer, nx: a refractive index in a direction (a slow axis direction) in which an in-plane refractive index of the birefringence layer reaches its maximum, ny: a refractive index in a direction (a fast axis direction) that is orthogonal to an nx direction within a plane of the birefringence layer, and nz: a refractive index in a thickness direction of the birefringence layer that is orthogonal to each of the nx direction and an ny direction, wherein in the forming of the birefringence layer, the shrinkable film is shrunk by heating the shrinkable film. nx': in a case where the non-liquid crystalline material is solidified so as to be a solidified layer, a refractive index in a direction (a slow axis direction) in which an in-plane refractive index of the solidified layer reaches its maximum, nz': a refractive index in a thickness direction of the solidified layer that is orthogonal to each of an nx' direction and a direction (a fast axis direction) that is orthogonal to the nx' direction within a plane of the solidified layer, nx: a refractive index in a direction (a slow axis direction) in which an in-plane refractive index of the birefringence layer reaches its maximum, ny: a refractive index in a direction (a fast axis direction) that is orthogonal to an nx direction within a plane of the birefringence layer, and nz: a refractive index in a thickness direction of the birefringence layer that is orthogonal to each of the nx direction and an ny direction, wherein in the forming of the birefringence layer, the shrinkable film is shrunk by heating the shrinkable film.