The work aims to obtain the reinforced carboxymethyl cellulose films (CMC-NCC) for food packaging. With the carboxymethyl cellulose as the formed film base and the glycerol as the plasticizer, NCCs of 1%, 3%, 5% and 10% mass fraction were added into CMC by solution casting and then the CMC-NCC was prepared. The mechanical, moisture barrier and thermal properties of CMC were improved by incorporating the NCC. FT-IR analysis results proved that the intermolecular hydrogen bond was formed between CMC and NCC. XRD analysis results proved that NCC could change the crystallization arrangement of CMC. With the addition of 5% NCC, the tensile strength was increased by 25.6%, the elongation at break was decreased by 21.3%, the water vapor permeability was decreased by 9%, the thermal stability was improved by 2% and the light transmittance remained above 87%, compared to the pure CMC films. In conclusion, the reinforced CMC film is featured by high mechanical property, good moisture barrier property and other advantages, and NCC has improved the quality of the formed CMC films.