<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000914713</issuerCik><issuerName>MILLS CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>MLS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001248215</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>VON PERFALL FRANZ</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KAN AM</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>3290 NORTHSIDE PARKWAY, SUITE 825</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>30327</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Units</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1" /></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>52451</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F5" /></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>52451</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>180967</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Units represent limited partnership interests in The Mills Limited Partnership, the Operating Partnership of the Issuer and of which the Issuer is the sole general partner and majority Unit holder.  The Units are exchangeable beginning one year after their issuance for Common Stock of the Issuer (on a 1-for-1 basis) or, at the Issuer???s election, for the cash value of such Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Received by the reporting person in a pro rata distribution in accordance with his interest from the general partners of Kan Am USA VII Limited Partnership (8,337), Kan Am USA VIII Limited Partnership (13,539) and Kan Am USA IX Limited Partnership (30,575) in connection with a redemption by each of these partnerships of a portion of such general partners??? interests in exchange for Units and the subsequent distribution to the reporting person by the general partners of such Units.  </footnote><footnote id="F3">The Units are currently exchangeable for Common Stock during four periods a year as specified in the Partnership Agreement of The Mills Limited Partnership. </footnote><footnote id="F4">There is no expiration date for the exchange of Units for Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F5">No additional consideration is payable in connection with the exchange of Units for Common Stock.</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Franz von Perfall</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

