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)       August 24, 2004
                                                --------------------------------

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)


                                       1

<PAGE>



Item 8.01.           Other Events

     On August 24, 2004, Applebee's  International,  Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release entitled "Applebee's  International  Reports  August  Comparable
Sales."  The release contained the following information.

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

            Applebee's International Reports August Comparable Sales

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  August  24,  2004  --  Applebee's  International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported  comparable  sales for the four-week  period ended
August 22, 2004.

System-wide  comparable  sales increased 1.6 percent for the August period,  and
comparable  sales for franchise  restaurants  increased 2.2 percent.  Comparable
sales for company  restaurants  decreased 0.1 percent,  reflecting a decrease in
guest traffic of approximately 1.5 percent, offset by a higher average check.

The  company  noted that its Fresh  Garden  Classics  promotion  featuring  four
salads,  which  concluded on August 15th, had lower price points than either the
prior  year or  recent  promotions.  August  2004  comparable  sales  were  also
negatively  impacted  by the  Olympics  and  one  less  week of  advertising  in
comparison to the prior year. In addition, Hurricane Charley negatively impacted
franchise comparable sales by approximately 0.3 percent.  August 2003 comparable
sales were negatively  impacted by approximately 0.5 percent in both company and
franchise markets due to a blackout in several states last year.

System-wide comparable sales for the quarter-to-date period through August have
increased 3.5 percent, with company and franchise restaurant comparable sales up
1.9 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively. The company expects the Olympics to
continue to have a negative impact on sales for the first week of its September
period.

Applebee's International,  Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., develops,
franchises and operates  restaurants under the Applebee's  Neighborhood  Grill &
Bar brand,  the largest  casual  dining  concept in the world.  As of August 22,
2004, there were 1,629 Applebee's restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states
and  nine  international   countries.   Additional   information  on  Applebee's
International can be found at the company's website (www.applebees.com).

                                      # # #




                                       2
<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:    August 24, 2004                   By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



                                       3