UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 Current Report




                PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       February 8, 2002
                                                --------------------------------

Commission File Number:    000-17962


                         Applebee's International, Inc.
              ----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                      43-1461763
  ----------------------------              ------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   incorporation or organization)

          4551 W. 107th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

                                 (913) 967-4000
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      None
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


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<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events

     On February 8, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc.(the "Company") issued a
press release  entitled  "Applebee's  International  Reports January  Comparable
Sales;  Fourth  Quarter 2001 Earnings  Conference  Call to be Broadcast over the
Internet." The press release contained the following information.


                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact: Carol DiRaimo,
         Director of Investor Relations
         (913) 967-4109


           Applebee's International Reports January Comparable Sales;
 Fourth Quarter 2001 Earnings Conference Call to be Broadcast over the Internet


Overland  Park,  Kan.,  February  8,  2002  --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported  comparable  sales for the four-week  period ended
January 27, 2002.  System-wide  comparable  sales  increased 4.9 percent for the
January period,  and comparable  sales for franchise  restaurants  increased 5.3
percent.  Comparable  sales  for  company  restaurants  increased  3.5  percent,
reflecting an increase in guest traffic of approximately  2.0 percent,  combined
with a higher average check.



Item 9.           Regulation FD Disclosure

     Applebee's International, Inc.(the "Company") also  announced the following
information.


The company will be releasing fourth quarter and fiscal year 2001 earnings after
the  market  closes on  Wednesday,  February  13,  2002,  and will be  hosting a
conference  call to review the results on Thursday,  February 14, 2002, at 10:00
a.m.  Central  Time (11:00  a.m.  Eastern  Time).  The  conference  call will be
broadcast live over the Internet.

To listen to the conference call, please go to the Investor Relations section of
the  company's  website  (www.applebees.com)  at least 15  minutes  prior to the
commencement of the call to register,  download, and install any necessary audio
software. A replay will be available shortly after the call.

Applebee's International,  Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., currently
develops,  franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood
Grill and Bar brand,  the largest casual dining concept in the world.  There are
currently 1,394 Applebee's  restaurants  operating  system-wide in 49 states and
eight   international   countries.    Additional   information   on   Applebee's
International  can  be  found  at  the  company's  website  (www.applebees.com).


                                      # # #



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<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                              APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                              (Registrant)


Date:    February 8, 2002                  By: /s/  George D. Shadid
         ---------------------                 ---------------------
                                               George D. Shadid
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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