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 31, 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 July 31, 2002, Applebee's  International, Inc. (the "Company")  issued a
press release entitled "Applebee's  International Reports 19 Percent Increase in
Second  Quarter Diluted  Earnings Per  Share of  37 Cents."  The  press  release
contained  the  following information.




                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


              Applebee's International Reports 19 Percent Increase
            in Second Quarter Diluted Earnings Per Share of 37 Cents

Overland  Park,   Kan.,  July  31,  2002  --  Applebee's   International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported net earnings of $21.5 million,  or 38 cents and 37
cents per share on a basic  and  diluted  basis,  respectively,  for the  second
quarter ended June 30, 2002.  This  represents an increase in earnings per share
of 19 percent on both a basic and diluted basis as compared with 32 cents and 31
cents per share on a basic  and  diluted  basis,  respectively,  for the  second
quarter of 2001.

System-wide  comparable  sales exceeded the company's  expectation of at least 2
percent,  increasing 3.2 percent for the second  quarter,  the 16th  consecutive
quarter of comparable  sales growth.  Comparable sales increased 3.7 percent for
franchise  restaurants  and 1.4  percent for  company  restaurants.  System-wide
comparable  sales for the year-to-date  period have increased 3.3 percent,  with
franchise  and  company  restaurant  comparable  sales  up 3.9  percent  and 1.5
percent, respectively.

The company also reported comparable sales for the June fiscal period, comprised
of the five weeks ended June 30, 2002.  System-wide  comparable  sales increased
1.4 percent,  reflecting a 2.0 percent increase for franchise  restaurants and a
0.5 percent decrease for company  restaurants.  The decrease in comparable sales
for company restaurants reflects a similar decrease in guest traffic,  offset in
part by a slightly higher average check.  June comparable  sales were negatively
impacted by the Memorial Day holiday and the remainder of that week.

In addition,  the company reported  comparable sales for the July fiscal period,
comprised of the four weeks ended July 28, 2002.  System-wide  comparable  sales
increased  1.5  percent,   including  a  1.8  percent   increase  for  franchise
restaurants and a 0.3 percent increase for company restaurants.  The increase in
comparable  sales for  company  restaurants  reflects  flat guest  traffic and a
slightly higher average check.  July comparable sales were strong during the 4th
of July week, but trailed off over the next three weeks.

Lloyd L. Hill, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We were pleased that
system-wide  comparable  sales for the quarter  exceeded  our  expectations  and
continue  to believe  that the  strategies  we set forth in May are on target to
drive future sales growth.  There is no question that the consumer has exhibited
less  predictable  behavior  in  the  face  of  the  current  economic  climate,
unprecedented  corporate  failures  and the  decline  in the  stock  market.  We
witnessed  this erratic  behavior in both June and July when our sales were more
volatile on a weekly  basis.  That being said, we continue to view the long-term
sales  outlook  favorably  as  eating  out is  firmly  established  as a part of
consumer lifestyles."

                                       2
<PAGE>

Hill  continued,  "As part of our strategy to improve our food, we  successfully
introduced  a new menu in more than  1,400  restaurants  system-wide  during the
second  quarter.  This menu includes new items,  as well as improvements to both
the quality and portion size of existing items.  Importantly,  we have been able
to improve our food while driving down costs by leveraging  the  investments  we
have made in our supply chain initiative.

"We are  also  focused  on  improving  execution  by  investing  in our  people.
Management  retention and staffing  levels continue to improve and, as a result,
our guest satisfaction scores are at all-time highs. Our strategies are designed
to  deliver   exceptional   price/value   through  both  our  food  and  service
initiatives.  We recognize that price/value perceptions depend on more than just
the price we charge, but also on the value we provide in both food and service."

Hill  concluded,  "We are  excited  about the  roll-out  of Phase I of our To Go
initiative, which will be completed system-wide by Labor Day. Our positioning as
the most  conveniently  located  concept in casual  dining is a natural fit with
this strategy, and meets our guests' demand for food on the go."

Other results for the second quarter and year-to-date periods ended June 30,
2002 included:

o    Net earnings for the 26-week period ended June 30, 2002 were $41.7 million,
     or 75 cents and 73 cents per share,  respectively,  on a basic and  diluted
     basis.  This  compares to net  earnings in the same period of 2001 of $34.6
     million, or 62 cents and 61 cents per share,  respectively,  on a basic and
     diluted basis.  This  represents an increase in basic and diluted  earnings
     per share of 21 percent and 20 percent, respectively.

o    System-wide  sales for the Applebee's  concept were a record $812.7 million
     for the second  quarter,  an  increase  of 11 percent  over the prior year.
     System-wide  sales for the 26-week period ended June 30, 2002 exceeded $1.6
     billion, also up 11 percent.

o    Operating  revenues  (comprised of company  restaurant  sales and franchise
     income)  increased  10 percent  for the  second  quarter  and  year-to-date
     period.

o    Applebee's  ended the  quarter  with  1,421  restaurants  system-wide  (318
     company  and 1,103  franchise  restaurants).  During the second  quarter of
     2002,  there  were  19  new  Applebee's   restaurants  opened  system-wide,
     including 4 company and 15 franchised restaurants.

o    As of June 30, 2002, the company had total  long-term  debt  outstanding of
     $33 million,  reflecting  payments of $22 million  during the quarter.  The
     company  has nearly  $117  million  available  under its  revolving  credit
     facility.

o    In May 2002,  the  company's  board of directors  authorized  an additional
     program to  repurchase  up to $75 million of the  company's  common  stock,
     subject to market  conditions.  As of June 30, 2002,  $87.3 million remains
     available under this and previous authorizations.

                                       3

<PAGE>


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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                             13 Weeks Ended                 26 Weeks Ended
                                                       ---------------------------    ---------------------------
                                                        June 30,         July 1,        June 30,        July 1,
                                                          2002             2001           2002            2001
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
<S>                                                    <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>
Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales....................       $178,893        $162,035       $353,866        $322,178
     Franchise income............................         25,484          23,885         50,324          46,119
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
        Total operating revenues.................        204,377         185,920        404,190         368,297
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
Cost of company restaurant sales:
     Food and beverage...........................         47,073          43,633         94,480          86,938
     Labor.......................................         58,881          51,533        116,338         102,433
     Direct and occupancy........................         44,291          41,104         87,163          81,863
     Pre-opening expense.........................            305             132            640             267
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
        Total cost of company restaurant sales...        150,550         136,402        298,621         271,501
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
General and administrative expenses..............         19,553          18,085         38,799          35,251
Amortization of intangible assets................             52           1,462            190           2,925
Loss on disposition of restaurants and equipment.            727             571          1,021             758
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
Operating earnings...............................         33,495          29,400         65,559          57,862
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
Other income (expense):
     Investment income...........................            381             415            778             772
     Interest expense............................           (555)         (2,043)        (1,188)         (4,400)
     Other income................................            482             385            583             475
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
        Total other income (expense).............            308          (1,243)           173          (3,153)
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
Earnings before income taxes.....................         33,803          28,157         65,732          54,709
Income taxes.....................................         12,338          10,361         23,992          20,132
                                                       -----------     -----------    ------------    -----------
Net earnings.....................................       $ 21,465        $ 17,796       $ 41,740        $ 34,577
                                                       ===========     ===========    ============    ===========

Basic net earnings per common share (a)..........       $   0.38        $   0.32       $   0.75        $   0.62
                                                       ===========     ===========    ============    ===========
Diluted net earnings per common share (a)........       $   0.37        $   0.31       $   0.73        $   0.61
                                                       ===========     ===========    ============    ===========

Basic weighted average shares outstanding (a)....         55,872          55,370         55,874          55,522
                                                       ===========     ===========    ============    ===========
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (a)..         57,374          56,808         57,352          56,661
                                                       ===========     ===========    ============    ===========

</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 11, 2002.


                                       4
<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 Ended             26 Weeks Ended
                                                                ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                  June 30,     July 1,      June 30,      July 1,
                                                                   2002         2001          2002         2001
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales................................       87.5%        87.2%        87.8%         87.5%
     Franchise income........................................       12.5         12.8         12.2          12.5
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
        Total operating revenues.............................      100.0%       100.0%       100.0%        100.0%
                                                                ============ ============ ============= ============
Cost of sales (as a percentage of company restaurant sales):
     Food and beverage.......................................       26.3%        26.9%        26.7%         27.0%
     Labor...................................................       32.9         31.8         32.9          31.8
     Direct and occupancy....................................       24.8         25.4         24.6          25.4
     Pre-opening expense.....................................        0.2          0.1          0.2           0.1
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
        Total cost of sales..................................       84.2%        84.2%        84.4%         84.3%
                                                                ============ ============ ============= ============

General and administrative expenses..........................        9.6%         9.7%         9.6%          9.6%
Amortization of intangible assets............................        --           0.8          --            0.8
Loss on disposition of restaurants and equipment.............        0.4          0.3          0.3           0.2
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Operating earnings...........................................       16.4         15.8         16.2          15.7
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Other income (expense):
     Investment income.......................................        0.2          0.2          0.2           0.2
     Interest expense........................................       (0.3)        (1.1)        (0.3)         (1.2)
     Other income............................................        0.2          0.2          0.1           0.1
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
        Total other income (expense).........................        0.2         (0.7)         --           (0.9)
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Earnings before income taxes.................................       16.5         15.1         16.3          14.9
Income taxes.................................................        6.0          5.6          5.9           5.5
                                                                ------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Net earnings.................................................       10.5%         9.6%        10.3%          9.4%
                                                                ============ ============ ============= ============

</TABLE>


                                       5

<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  provided  guidance as to its business  outlook for fiscal year
2002.

o    With regard to  system-wide  comparable  sales,  the  company's  previously
     stated  guidance  remains  unchanged.   The  company  continues  to  expect
     system-wide  comparable  sales to  increase  by at least 2 percent  for the
     remainder of 2002,  although  monthly  sales  results may be more  volatile
     given the current economy,  calendar shifts,  or unusual events.  Combining
     year-to-date  sales  performance  through July with this  expectation,  the
     company  expects  system-wide  comparable  sales to  increase  at least 2.5
     percent for the full year.

o    Consistent with current consensus analyst  estimates,  diluted earnings per
     share for fiscal year 2002 are now  expected to be in the range of $1.42 to
     $1.44, excluding any impact of additional stock repurchases.

o    With  respect  to the  previously  announced  potential  acquisition  of 21
     franchise restaurants located in the Washington, D.C. area from an existing
     franchisee,  on July 30, 2002,  procedures were  established to control the
     bidding and sale process for the Apple  Capitol  restaurants  and September
     13th was  confirmed as the date for the final sale  approval  hearing.  The
     company  continues  to  expect  to  close  under  its  negotiated  purchase
     agreement to acquire the 21 restaurants in the fourth quarter.


A  conference  call to review the second  quarter  2002  results and the current
business outlook will be held on Thursday morning, August 1, 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).

                                       6
<PAGE>

Applebee's International,  Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., 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
1,436  Applebee's  restaurants  operating  system-wide  in 49  states  and seven
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 July 16, 2002. The company  disclaims any obligation
to update these forward-looking statements.

                                      # # #



                                       7
<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 31, 2002                   By:   /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



                                       8