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 13, 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 13, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press  release  entitled  "Applebee's  International  Reports  Fourth  Quarter
Earnings  Per  Share of 45 Cents  Excluding  Refinancing  Costs;  Full  Year EPS
Increases  13 Percent to  $1.81."  The press  release  contained  the  following
information.



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


                 Applebee's International Reports Fourth Quarter
           Earnings Per Share of 45 Cents Excluding Refinancing Costs;
                   Full Year EPS Increases 13 Percent to $1.81

Overland  Park,   Kan.,  Feb.  13,  2002  --  Applebee's   International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported net earnings of $17.1 million,  or 46 cents and 45
cents per share on a basic  and  diluted  basis,  respectively,  for the  fourth
quarter ended  December 30, 2001  (excluding a $4.1 million or 11 cent per share
after-tax  charge  relating to refinancing  costs),  as compared to 42 cents per
share on both a basic and diluted basis for the fourth  quarter of 2000.  Fourth
quarter  2001  results  include  13  weeks as  compared  to 14 weeks in the 2000
quarter.  Including  refinancing  costs, net earnings were $13.0 million,  or 35
cents and 34 cents per share on a basic and diluted basis, respectively, for the
fourth quarter of 2001.

For the fiscal year ended  December 30, 2001,  net earnings  were a record $68.5
million, or $1.85 and $1.81 per share on a basic and diluted basis, respectively
(excluding  a $4.1  million or 11 cent per share  after-tax  charge  relating to
refinancing  costs).  This  represents  a 15 percent and 13 percent  increase in
basic and diluted earnings per share,  respectively,  as compared to fiscal year
2000  earnings  of $1.61  and $1.60  per  share on a basic  and  diluted  basis,
respectively.  Fiscal year 2001 results include 52 weeks as compared to 53 weeks
in fiscal  year 2000.  Including  refinancing  costs,  net  earnings  were $64.4
million,   or  $1.74  and  $1.70  per  share  on  a  basic  and  diluted  basis,
respectively, for fiscal year 2001.

The company completed the refinancing of its existing credit facilities in early
November with the establishment of a new $150 million revolving credit facility.
As a result of the  refinancing,  non-recurring  charges  of $4.1  million or 11
cents per share on an after-tax basis were incurred in the fourth quarter due to
the termination of interest rate swap agreements and the write-off of previously
deferred financing costs. The costs relating to the termination of interest rate
swap  agreements  of $4.5 million,  before income taxes,  are reflected in other
expense  ($2.9  million on an after-tax  basis),  and the  write-off of deferred
financing costs is reflected as an  extraordinary  loss of $1.2 million,  net of
income taxes, in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings.



                                       2
<PAGE>



Lloyd L. Hill,  chairman and chief  executive  officer,  said,  "We continued to
exceed our financial targets in 2001.  Earnings per share growth on a comparable
52-week basis  surpassed our 2001 EPS growth target of at least 15 percent.  Our
return on equity  was over 22  percent  for the year,  well above our 20 percent
target, and one of the highest levels in the industry.

"While 2001 was a difficult  year for our country and our economy,  the strength
of Applebee's  positioning and the casual dining segment was  reinforced.  Sales
trends  appear  to have  rebounded  in  recent  months  from  the  lower  levels
experienced   in   September   and   October,   reaffirming   our  belief   that
consumer-dining habits are firmly entrenched. We continued to build market share
with system-wide sales reaching nearly $3 billion in 2001.

"We will  continue to leverage our system size by utilizing  network  television
advertising  as a key strategy in building brand  awareness.  In addition to our
existing  advertising  campaign,  we introduced a new brand image spot last week
during the Olympics that emphasizes our unique neighborhood positioning."

Hill concluded,  "Our position as the world's largest casual dining concept grew
with  1,392  restaurants  open  at  year-end,  as  the  system  opened  109  new
restaurants,  an unprecedented ninth consecutive year of over 100 new restaurant
openings.  This dominant market position,  combined with our network advertising
presence, strong price/value relationship,  and franchise business model provide
us with a solid foundation for continued growth."

Other  results for the fourth  quarter and fiscal year ended  December  30, 2001
included:

o    As previously reported,  comparable sales for company restaurants increased
     1.6 percent  for the fourth  quarter and 2.5 percent for the 52 weeks ended
     December 30, 2001.  System-wide  comparable sales increased 2.7 percent for
     the fourth  quarter  and 2.9  percent for the  year-to-date  period,  while
     comparable sales for franchise  restaurants  increased 3.0 percent for both
     the quarter and year-to-date periods.


                                       3
<PAGE>


o    System-wide  sales for the  Applebee's  concept were a record $2.93 billion
     for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2001, an increase of 10 percent over
     2000 system sales of $2.67  billion.  Fourth  quarter 2001 system sales for
     the  Applebee's  concept were a record $735.0  million.  Fourth quarter and
     fiscal  year 2000 sales  include  one extra week as  compared to the fourth
     quarter and fiscal year 2001.  After  adjusting for the extra week,  system
     sales would have increased by 12 percent for both the year and the quarter.

o    Operating  revenues  (comprised of company  restaurant  sales and franchise
     income)  reached $744 million for the fiscal year, an increase of 8 percent
     over 2000  operating  revenues of $690 million.  Fourth  quarter and fiscal
     year 2000  operating  revenues  include  one extra week as  compared to the
     fourth  quarter and fiscal year 2001.  After  adjusting for the extra week,
     operating  revenues  would have  increased 10 percent for both the year and
     the quarter.

o    Applebee's ended the year with 1,392  restaurants  system-wide (310 company
     and 1,082 franchise restaurants).  During the fourth quarter of 2001, there
     were 35 new Applebee's restaurants opened system-wide, including 12 company
     and 23 franchised  restaurants.  There were 109 new Applebee's  restaurants
     opened  system-wide  during  fiscal year 2001,  including 25 company and 84
     franchised restaurants.

o    During 2001, the company repurchased 1,909,000 shares of common stock at an
     average  price  of  $23.56  for an  aggregate  cost of $45.0  million.  The
     company's 2001 stock repurchase  authorization has been extended for fiscal
     year 2002, of which $20.6 million remains available.

                                       4

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                                                        (Unaudited)
                                         (in thousands, except per share amounts)


                                                          13 Weeks          14 Weeks          52 Weeks          53 Weeks
                                                            Ended             Ended             Ended             Ended
                                                         December 30,      December 31,      December 30,      December 31,
                                                            2001              2000              2001              2000
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
<S>                                                     <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
 Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales.......................     $ 164,703         $ 161,016         $ 651,119         $ 605,414
     Franchise income...............................        23,319            22,951            93,225            84,738
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
        Total operating revenues....................       188,022           183,967           744,344           690,152
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 Cost of company restaurant sales:
     Food and beverage..............................        44,550            45,225           175,977           166,014
     Labor..........................................        53,699            50,577           208,996           191,402
     Direct and occupancy...........................        41,643            41,851           164,965           151,611
     Pre-opening expense............................           802               828             1,701             1,659
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
        Total cost of company restaurant sales......       140,694           138,481           551,639           510,686
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 General and administrative expenses................        18,487            16,491            72,935            65,060
 Amortization of intangible assets..................         1,463             1,568             5,851             5,934
 Loss on disposition of restaurants and equipment...           405               359             1,492             1,265
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 Operating earnings.................................        26,973            27,068           112,427           107,207
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 Other income (expense):
     Investment income..............................           399               379             1,650             1,484
     Interest expense...............................        (1,225)           (2,448)           (7,456)           (9,304)
     Other income (expense).........................        (3,541)              209            (2,744)              551
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
        Total other expense.........................        (4,367)           (1,860)           (8,550)           (7,269)
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item        22,606            25,208           103,877            99,938
 Income taxes.......................................         8,319             9,276            38,227            36,777
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 Earnings before extraordinary item.................        14,287            15,932            65,650            63,161
 Extraordinary loss from early extinguishment
     of debt, net of income taxes...................        (1,249)               --            (1,249)               --
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 Net earnings.......................................     $  13,038         $  15,932         $  64,401         $  63,161
                                                       ===============   ================  ================  ================

 Basic earnings per common share (a):
     Basic earnings before extraordinary item.......     $    0.38         $    0.42         $    1.77         $    1.61
     Extraordinary item.............................         (0.03)               --             (0.03)               --
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
  Basic net earnings per common share................    $    0.35         $    0.42         $    1.74         $    1.61
                                                       ===============   ================  ================  ================

 Diluted earnings per common share (a):
     Diluted earnings before extraordinary item.....     $    0.37         $    0.42         $    1.73         $    1.60
     Extraordinary item.............................         (0.03)               --             (0.03)               --
                                                       ---------------   ----------------  ----------------  ----------------
 Diluted net earnings per common share..............     $    0.34         $    0.42         $    1.70         $    1.60
                                                       ===============   ================  ================  ================

 Basic weighted average shares outstanding (a)......        37,091            37,832            37,008            39,228
                                                       ===============   ================  ================  ================
 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (a)....        38,109            38,077            37,918            39,447
                                                       ===============   ================  ================  ================
</TABLE>


(a) All earnings per share and  weighted  average share  information  reflects a
three-for-two stock split  effective at the close of  business on June 12, 2001.

                                       5
<PAGE>


The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated,  information  derived
from the Company's consolidated statements of earnings expressed as a percentage
of total operating revenues,  except where otherwise noted.  Percentages may not
add due to rounding.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         13 Weeks           14 Weeks           52 Weeks          53 Weeks
                                                           Ended              Ended              Ended             Ended
                                                        December 30,       December 31,       December 30,      December 31,
                                                           2001               2000               2001              2000
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
<S>                                                        <C>                <C>                <C>               <C>
Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales.....................           87.6%              87.5%              87.5%             87.7%
     Franchise income.............................           12.4               12.5               12.5              12.3
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
        Total operating revenues..................          100.0%             100.0%             100.0%            100.0%
                                                      ===============    ===============    ==============    ===============
Cost of sales (as a percentage of company
     restaurant sales):
     Food and beverage............................           27.0%              28.1%              27.0%             27.4%
     Labor........................................           32.6               31.4               32.1              31.6
     Direct and occupancy.........................           25.3               26.0               25.3              25.0
     Pre-opening expense..........................            0.5                0.5                0.3               0.3
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
        Total cost of sales.......................           85.4%              86.0%              84.7%             84.4%
                                                      ===============    ===============    ==============    ===============
General and administrative expenses...............            9.8%               9.0%               9.8%              9.4%
Amortization of intangible assets.................            0.8                0.9                0.8               0.9
Loss on disposition of restaurants and equipment..            0.2                0.2                0.2               0.2
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
Operating earnings................................           14.3               14.7               15.1              15.5
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
Other income (expense):
     Investment income............................            0.2                0.2                0.2               0.2
     Interest expense.............................           (0.7)              (1.3)              (1.0)             (1.3)
     Other income (expense).......................           (1.9)               0.1               (0.4)              0.1
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
        Total other expense.......................           (2.3)              (1.0)              (1.1)             (1.1)
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
Earnings before income taxes and extraordinary item          12.0               13.7               14.0              14.5
Income taxes......................................            4.4                5.0                5.1               5.3
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
Earnings before extraordinary item................            7.6                8.7                8.8               9.2
Extraordinary loss from early extinguishment
     of debt, net of income taxes.................           (0.7)                --               (0.2)               --
                                                      ---------------    ---------------    --------------    ---------------
Net earnings......................................            6.9%               8.7%               8.7%              9.2%
                                                      ===============    ===============    ==============    ===============
</TABLE>



Fiscal  year  2001  financial  statements  have  not yet  been  filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                       6
<PAGE>



Item 9.           Regulation FD Disclosure

     Applebee's   International,  Inc. (the  "Company") also  included  guidance
regarding its business outlook in the press release. These comments are included
below.


BUSINESS OUTLOOK

The company also updated its business outlook for fiscal year 2002.

o    Over 100 new  restaurants  are  expected  to open again in 2002,  including
     approximately  25 company  restaurants and 80 to 90 franchise  restaurants.
     Seven company  restaurants are currently expected to open in the first half
     of the  year,  with  the  balance  opening  in the last  half of the  year.
     Approximately  25 to 30 franchise  restaurants  are expected to open in the
     first half of the year, with the remainder  opening in the last half of the
     year.  Capital  expenditures are expected to be between $60 and $65 million
     in 2002.

o    Based on the  uncertainty  surrounding  the economic  outlook,  system-wide
     comparable  sales  are  expected  to  increase  in the  range  of zero to 2
     percent.

o    Overall restaurant margins before pre-opening  expense for the full year of
     2002 are  currently  expected  to be similar to fiscal  year 2001  results,
     depending upon sales.

o    General and administrative expenses, as a percentage of operating revenues,
     are expected to be in the mid-9 percent range in 2002.

o    Based on current interest rates and debt levels,  interest expense for 2002
     is expected to be in the range of $3.5 million to $4.0 million.

o    The company will adopt Statement of Financial  Accounting Standards No. 142
     at  the   beginning  of  2002   resulting  in  the  reduction  of  goodwill
     amortization and an increase in diluted earnings per share of approximately
     9 cents.

o    The  effective  income tax rate is expected  to decline to 36.5  percent in
     2002 from 36.8 percent in 2001.

o    The uncertain economic  environment lends a high degree of unpredictability
     in  forecasting  sales and earnings.  Based on the  foregoing  assumptions,
     diluted  earnings  per  share for 2002 are  expected  to be in the range of
     $2.05 to $2.13, excluding the impact of stock repurchase programs.


                                       7
<PAGE>



A conference  call to review the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2001 results and
the current  business  outlook  will be held on Thursday  morning,  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 and a replay will be available  shortly
after  the call on the  Investor  Relations  section  of the  company's  website
(www.applebees.com).

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).

The  statements  contained in the Business  Outlook  section of this release are
forward looking and based on current  expectations.  There are several risks and
uncertainties  that could cause actual results to differ  materially  from those
described,  including  but not  limited to the  ability of the  company  and its
franchisees to open and operate additional restaurants profitably, the continued
growth of its  franchisees  and its  ability  to attract  and  retain  qualified
franchisees,  the impact of intense  competition in the casual dining segment of
the restaurant  industry and its ability to control  restaurant  operating costs
which are impacted by market changes,  minimum wage and other  employment  laws,
food costs and  inflation.  For additional  discussion of the principal  factors
that could  cause  actual  results  to be  materially  different,  the reader is
referred to the company's  current  report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  on  February  13,  2002.  The company  disclaims  any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


                                      # # #



                                      8
<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 13, 2002                   By: /s/  George D. Shadid
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               George D. Shadid
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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