Novel green-light-emitting Tb(3+)-doped SrZnO2 phosphor thin films were grown via the pulsed-laser-deposition technique. The films were grown at various substrate temperatures and oxygen pressures. The crystallinity and surface morphology of the films were investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic-force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The luminescence properties were analyzed by measuring the excitation and photoluminescence spectra. The thin films showed a green emission radiated by the transitions from the 5D4 excited states to the 7FJ (J = 3-6) ground states of the Tb3+ ions found under ultraviolet excitation with a 272 nm wavelength. The crystallinity, surface morphology, and photoluminescence spectra of thin-film phosphors were found to be highly dependent on the deposition conditions, particularly the substrate temperature and oxygen pressure. The surface roughness and photoluminescence intensity of the films showed similar behaviors as a function of the substrate temperature and oxygen pressure.