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)       May 9, 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 May 9, 2002,  Applebee's  International,  Inc. (the "Company") issued a
press release entitled "Applebee's  International  Announces Three-for-Two Stock
Split." The press release is attached below.



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


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


                       Applebee's International Announces
                            Three-for-Two Stock Split


Overland Park, Kan., May 9, 2002 -- Applebee's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPB)
announced  today at its Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  that it has declared a
three-for-two  stock  split,  to be effected  in the form of a 50 percent  stock
dividend,  payable June 11, 2002. Shareholders of record as of May 24, 2002 will
receive one additional  share for every two shares held on that date.  Cash will
be paid in lieu of fractional shares.

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 1,411 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:    May 9, 2002                     By:   /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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