Poly (vinyl alcohol) based composite films with different loadings of cellulose nanofibrils were prepared using a solvent casting method and their tensile, optical and wettability properties were tested. The morphology of both neat poly (vinyl alcohol) and nanocomposites was explored by using a field emission scanning electron microscope technique. Results indicated that the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of poly (vinyl alcohol) composite films were significantly improved with the increase of cellulose nanofibrils loading. However, the percentage of elongation at break decreased with increasing of cellulose nanofibrils. The films became increasingly opaque with increasing cellulose nanofibrils contents, although the composites also retained moderate transparency. The samples containing cellulose nanofibrils exhibited higher hydrophobicity compared with that of neat poly (vinyl alcohol). Field emission scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed that the cellulose nanofibrils were homogeneously dispersed in the poly (vinyl alcohol) matrix.