Oriented dense thin films of CuZnAl-NO3 layered double hydroxide (CuZnAl-NO3 LDH) have been grown on the surface of copper foil by an in situ hydrothermal method with Cu substrate as Cu source, boehmite sol as Al source, and Zn(NO3)(2) aqueous solution as Zn source. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared CuZnAl-NO3 LDH films were studied by X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, room temperature Fourier transform infrared spectra, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The results showed that the [001] direction (or ab plane) of CuZnAl-NO3 LDH platelets was parallel to the surface of the Cu substrate. By a facial immersion method, intercalation of laurate anions by ion exchange with the CuZnAl-NO3 LDH film precursors endowed hydrophobic properties on Cu substrate. Moreover, the corrosion behavior of the hydrophobic laurate intercalated LDH films was then investigated by detecting the contact angle, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance properties, which showed that the corrosion resistance of the pristine Cu was highly improved due to the "hydrophobic interaction" and "anion exchange" effects. Therefore, this work provides an effective way to develop a new type of ternary LDH films with potential application as hydrophobic and long-term anticorrosive materials.