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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-09-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000929351</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIONS GATE ENTERTAINMENT CORP /CN/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LGF.B</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260042</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PATERSON SCOTT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P O BOX 214</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 3840</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TORONTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>M5J2S1</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>102</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.19</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120508</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>102</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120537</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>54</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120454</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>54</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120483</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents common shares withheld by the Issuer to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of 407 common shares previously reported. No common shares were sold by the Issuer of the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Amount incudes the following restricted share units granted by the Issuer, payable upon vesting in an equal number of Class A common shares of the Issuer: (i) 825 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments beginning September 12, 2018; (ii) 814 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in two equal annual installments beginning September 13, 2018; and (iii) 432 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in two equal annual installments beginning September 15, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Amount includes the following restricted share units granted by the Issuer, payable upon vesting in an equal number of Class B common shares of the Issuer: (i) 862 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments beginning September 12, 2018; (ii) 814 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in two equal annual installments beginning September 13, 2018; and (ii) 432 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in two equal annual installments beginning September 15, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents common shares withheld by the Issuer to satisfy certain tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of 216 common shares previously reported. No common shares were sold by the Issuer or the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Amount includes the following restricted share units granted by the Issuer, payable upon vesting in an equal number of Class A common shares of the Issuer: (i) 825 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments beginning September 12, 2018; (ii) 814 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in two equal annual installments beginning September 13, 2018; and (iii) 216 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest on September 15, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Amount includes the following restricted share units granted by the Issuer, payable upon vesting in an equal number of Class B common shares of the Issuer: (i) 862 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in three equal annual installments beginning September 12, 2018; (ii) 814 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest in two equal annual installments beginning September 13, 2018; and (iii) 216 restricted share units that are scheduled to vest on September 15, 2018.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott Paterson (By Adrian Kuzycz by Power of Attorney)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-09-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
