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)       July 25, 2003
                                                --------------------------------

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)




<PAGE>



Item 9.           Regulation FD Disclosure

 On July 25, 2003, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press
release  entitled  "Applebee's  and Weight Watchers Announce Plans To Co-Develop
New Menu." The  press  release  is included below.



Contacts:
Weight Watchers International, Inc.: Linda Carilli (516) 390-1488
Applebee's International, Inc: Laurie Ellison (913) 967-2718



                         APPLEBEE'S AND WEIGHT WATCHERS
                      ANNOUNCE PLANS TO CO-DEVELOP NEW MENU

JULY 25, 2003 - Applebee's  International,  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  APPB),  operators of
Applebee's  Neighborhood  Grill & Bar  restaurants,  the world's  largest casual
dining concept, and Weight Watchers International,  Inc. (NYSE: WTW), the leader
in providing healthy and effective weight management services, have entered into
an exclusive and comprehensive license agreement. The keystone of this agreement
will be a Weight Watchers branded section of the Applebee's menu.

"Although  you can eat any food on the Weight  Watchers  program,  we know it is
still  often  difficult  for weight  conscious  consumers  to find  healthy  and
satisfying food choices when and where they need them.  Applebee's is a terrific
partner to develop these selections in a casual dining restaurant setting," said
Linda Huett, President and CEO of Weight Watchers International, Inc.

Applebee's and Weight Watchers will develop a number of new, exclusive items for
the  Applebee's  menu,  including  appetizers,  entrees and desserts.  Following
testing in select markets later this year,  these new items will be offered next
year in all Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants in the United States
and Canada - more than 1,500  locations.  The  companies  will work  together to
inform weight conscious consumers about the new menu.

"At Applebee's,  we are committed to choice.  We want to provide our guests with
menu selections as diverse as they are delicious," said Lloyd L. Hill,  Chairman
and CEO of Applebee's  International,  Inc.  "Teaming with Weight  Watchers is a
great way for us to provide our guests with healthy, great-tasting choices."


                                     -MORE-


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<PAGE>

Weight Watchers  International,  Inc. is the world's leading  provider of weight
loss services,  operating in the United States and in 29 other countries through
a network of company-owned and franchise operations.  Weight Watchers holds more
than 44,000 weekly  meetings  where members  receive group support and education
about healthy eating patterns,  behavior  modification and physical activity. In
addition,  Weight  Watchers  offers a wide range of products,  publications  and
programs  for those  interested  in weight loss and weight  control.  Additional
information about Weight Watchers can be found at WeightWatchers.com.

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.  There are currently
more than 1,500 Applebee's  restaurants  operating  system-wide in 49 states and
nine international countries. Additional information on Applebee's International
can be found at 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:     July 25, 2003                      By:/s/ Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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