<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-26</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-07-28</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000819539</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEIMAN MARCUS GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NMG.B</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264846</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERYLSON AMY SMITH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MARK D. BALK, GOULSTON &amp; STORRS, PC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>400 ATLANTIC AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Member of Schedule 13D group</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>39090</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>265289</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190968</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents a distribution of 39,090 shares by Susan F. Smith Grantor Retained Annuity Trust  5 Years udt dated September 1, 1998 to Susan F. Smith Grantor Retained Annuity Trust  5 Years udt dated September 1, 1998 fbo Amy Smith Berylson, of which Amy Smith Berylson and Mark D. Balk are trustees.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the shares owned directly or indirectly by the following persons or entities and indirectly by Amy Smith Berylson: 39,090 shares owned indirectly as a trustee of the Susan F. Smith Grantor Retained Annuity Trust  5 Years udt dated September 1, 1998 fbo Amy Smith Berylson; 96 shares owned directly by John G. Berylson, the husband of the reporting person; 5,026 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson as trustee of the J-J-E 1988 Trust fbo Jennifer L. Berylson; 5,026 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson as trustee of the J-J-E 1988 Trust fbo James T. Berylson; 5,026 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson as trustee of the J-J-E 1988 Trust fbo Elizabeth S. Berylson;</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">18,078 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson as trustee of the Amy Smith Berylson 1998 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust fbo Jennifer L. Berylson; 18,078 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson as trustee of the Amy Smith Berylson 1998 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust fbo Elizabeth S. Berylson; 18,078 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson as trustee of the Amy Smith Berylson 1998 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust fbo James T. Berylson; 59,529 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson and Amy Smith Berylson as trustees of the Amy Smith Berylson Grantor Retained Annuity Trust; 48,208 shares owned indirectly by Amy Smith Berylson as trustee of the Amy Smith Berylson Insurance Trust;</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">6,685 shares owned directly by Jennifer L. Berylson, the daughter of the reporting person; 6,686 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson and Amy Smith Berylson as guardians for James T. Berylson, the son of the reporting person; and 6,686 shares owned indirectly by John G. Berylson and Amy Smith Berylson as guardians for Elizabeth S. Berylson, the daughter of the reporting person; 28,997 shares owned indirectly as trustee of the Susan F. Smith Grantor Retained Annuity Trust  7 Years  udt dated August 10, 1994 fbo Amy Smith Berylson.  Amy Smith Berylson disclaims beneficial ownership of 89,465 of these shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that Amy Smith Berylson is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark D. Balk, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

