-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ER0Glgx8a2lVo7wyxz3NIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001256353-03-000002.txt : 20030915
<SEC-HEADER>0001256353-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030915
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030915214911
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001256353-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030915

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALABAN HOWARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001116698

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27915
		FILM NUMBER:		03896647

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11250 EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE 100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92130

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11250 EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE 100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92130

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENIUS PRODUCTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001098016
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-DURABLE GOODS, NEC [5099]
		IRS NUMBER:				330852923
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11250 EL CAMINO REAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92130
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8587938840

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11250 EL CAMINO REAL
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92130
</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>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001098016</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENIUS PRODUCTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GNPI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001116698</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALABAN HOWARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11250 EL CAMINO REAL, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP of New Business Developmnt</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28173</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>644602</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28173</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-06-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>28173</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>478173</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares and warrants were issued in lieu of salary of $20,000 to be paid pro rata over the remainder of 2003.  The shares and warrants vest pro rata on a monthly basis as the salary is earned over the remainder of 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Howard Balaban</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----