-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CJq93AQHG5biRyEg0Vs9hK9NMzA4qrmpspCFHD1yHb6/AjoiVHio+I9/TEkbwN1S
 7EpdETO6VjEEJ2GSAk2GRA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000703351-04-000007.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0000703351-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114105337
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000703351-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GATES ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001136541

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10275
		FILM NUMBER:		04524086

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 RICHMOND RD
		CITY:			LYNDHURST
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NACCO INDUSTRIES INC
		STREET 2:		5875 LANDERBROOK DRIVE
		CITY:			MAYFIELD HEIGHTS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRINKER INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000703351
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				751914582
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6820 LBJ FREEWAY
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9729809917

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6820 LBJ FREEWAY
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CHILIS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910528
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000703351</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BRINKER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001136541</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GATES ROBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ROOM 805 RUDDER TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1246 TAMU</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLLEGE STATION</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77843</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option Right-to-Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6678</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-01-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6678</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26678</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest in installments on and after date shown.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jay L. Tobin, Attorney-in-Fact for Robert M. Gates</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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