<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-09-17</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089976</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PACTIV CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTV</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184841</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PORTER ROGER B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>79 JOHN F. KENNEDY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02138</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable />
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Director Stock Option</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>20.25</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-09-17</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>6000</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1" />
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2004-03-17</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2013-09-17</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>6000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>25132</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Equivalent Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-09-17</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>50</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>1988-08-08</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>1988-08-08</value>
        <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>50</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>15290</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Stock Options granted pursuant to the Pactiv Corporation 2002 Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">The stock equivalent units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Stock Equivalent Units acquired and held pursuant to the Pactiv Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <remarks />
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>James V. Faulkner, Jr., Power of Attorney</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-09-19</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

