Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) pericarp contains abundant polyphenols that are suitable materials for developing active packaging films. In this study, 1 wt%, 3 wt% and 5 wt% of litchi pericarp extract (LPE) was added into qua-ternary ammonium chitosan (QAC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to develop active packaging films. The structural, physical and functional properties of QAC-PVA (QP) films were compared with LPE (QP-LPE films) and without LPE (QP films). Results showed QP film had a heterogenous cross-section whereas QP-LPE films displayed rough and uneven cross-sections. After adding LPE, the N–H, O–H, C–H and C=O stretching bands of QP films shifted due to the formation of intermolecular interactions between LPE and film matrix. LPE made the colorless QP film turned brown. QP-LPE films presented lower ultraviolet–visible light transmittance than QP film. After adding LPE, film thickness increased from 0.091 to 0.103 mm, film water vapor permeability increased from 14.98 × 10−11 to 17.21 × 10−11 g m−1 s−1 Pa−1, film oxygen permeability increased from 0.16 to 0.22 cm3 mm m−2 day−1 atm−1, film tensile strength increased from 14.10 to 17.41 MPa, and film elongation at break decreased from 36.94% to 25.13%. QP-LPE films quickly released polyphenols in distilled water within 4 h and displayed potent antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial ratio of the film against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes was elevated from 50.40−68.04% to 58.93−91.38% after adding LPE. Results suggested QP-LPE films could be utilized as antioxidant and antimicrobial packaging materials in food industry.