-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LAbkWgFtivNHYBy2MvovBS0ynrDOE5AEmmDj7r9henFTvSqqKmAzdbpN/ECgVnSq
 NknM11U7ei2qSD2XOvXOXg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001267869-08-000002.txt : 20081118
<SEC-HEADER>0001267869-08-000002.hdr.sgml : 20081118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081118144841
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001267869-08-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SKJODT PAUL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001267869

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32584
		FILM NUMBER:		081198054

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3237901825

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8228 SUNSET BOULEVARD
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90046

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATIONAL LAMPOON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000798078
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MOTION PICTURE & VIDEO TAPE PRODUCTION [7812]
		IRS NUMBER:				954053296
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8228 SUNSET BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		THIRD FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90046
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3104745252

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8228 SUNSET BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		THIRD FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90046

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	J2 COMMUNICATIONS /CA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	J2 TELECOMMUNICATIONS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890731

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	J2 COMMUNICATIONS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880308
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000798078</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATIONAL LAMPOON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NLN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267869</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SKJODT PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8228 SUNSET BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90046</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>339868</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul Skjodt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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