-----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,
 Axk0KDJeU51vdhSLbhhhn5uJdSm4G66u4pgIxKE3rZkb7MJoHus6ZLv04Dv+Eteg
 7An9qcYWt/cae7XVJtFmHQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000703351-04-000102.txt : 20041213
<SEC-HEADER>0000703351-04-000102.hdr.sgml : 20041213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041213154502
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000703351-04-000102
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041213

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:		041198760

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-09</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>TEXAS A&amp;M UNIVERSITY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ROOM 805 RUDDER TOWER, 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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jay L. Tobin, Attorney-in-Fact for Robert M. Gates</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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