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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198272-08-000072.txt : 20080227
<SEC-HEADER>0001198272-08-000072.hdr.sgml : 20080227
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080227145524
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198272-08-000072
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080225
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080227
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080227

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000900422
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				043187549
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172921000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HALDEMAN CHARLES E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001202325

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-07626
		FILM NUMBER:		08646243

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFICE SQ.
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM INVESTMENTS INC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</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>2008-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000900422</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM MUNICIPAL OPPORTUNITIES TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pmo</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202325</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HALDEMAN CHARLES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM INVESTMENTS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQ</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-25</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>536</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.51</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>806</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Effective date of mergers of each of Putnam Investment Grade Municipal Trust and Putnam Municipal Bond Fund into issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each of Putnam Investment Grade Municipal Trust (PGM) and Putnam Municipal Bond Fund (PMG), each of which is a closed-end investment company, merged into issuer (PMO) on February 25, 2008.  Common shares of PMO were issued in exchange for all outstanding common shares of each of PGM and PMG based on the per-share net asset values of each fund's common shares calculated as of February 22, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects the issuance of 276 common shares of PMO received in connection with the merger of PGM into PMO and the issuance of 260 common shares of PMO received in connection with the merger of PMG into PMO.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Per-share net asset value of PMO common shares as of February 22, 2008.  Reflects rounding.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Each of Putnam Investment Grade Municipal Trust (PGM) and Putnam Municipal Bond Fund (PMG), each of which is a closed-end investment company, merged into issuer (PMO) on February 25, 2008.  Common shares of PMO were issued in exchange for all outstanding common shares of each of PGM and PMG based on the per-share net asset values of each fund's common shares calculated as of February 22, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles E. Haldeman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
