A thin film for a reflection film or for a semi-transparent reflection film, having a compound phase formed of at least one chemical compound selected from the group consisting of a nitride, an oxide, a composite oxide, a nitroxide, a carbide, a sulfide, a chloride, a silicide (excluding silicon), a fluoride, a boride, a hydride, a phosphide, a selenide and a telluride of aluminum, magnesium, tin, zinc, indium, titanium, zirconium, manganese and silicon, dispersed in a matrix formed of silver or a silver alloy. The thin film may disperse at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a nitride, an oxide, a composite oxide, a nitroxide, a carbide, a sulfide, a chloride, a silicide, a fluoride, a boride, a hydride, a phosphide, a selenide and a telluride of silver, gallium, palladium or copper, in addition to aluminum or the like, therein. The thin film of the present invention keeps its reflectance without significant loss even after a long period of use, and can prolong the life of various devices which comprise the thin film as a reflection film, such as an optical recording medium and a display. The thin film can be also applied to semi-reflective / semi-transparent film used in the optical recording medium.