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)       January 12, 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)




<PAGE>



Item 9.           Regulation FD Disclosure

     On January 12, 2004, Applebee's International, Inc.(the "Company") issued a
press release  entitled  "Applebee's  International  Reports December Comparable
Sales; Updates 2003  Earnings  Guidance  and Provides  2004 Outlook." The  press
release is included below.



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


           Applebee's International Reports December Comparable Sales;
            Updates 2003 Earnings Guidance and Provides 2004 Outlook

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  January  12,  2004  --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported  comparable  sales for the five-week  period ended
December 28, 2003.

Comparable sales for company restaurants increased 2.8 percent, including the 21
franchise  restaurants in Washington,  D.C. acquired in November 2002 as well as
the 11 franchise restaurants adjacent to the St. Louis market that were acquired
in March 2003. Excluding the acquired restaurants,  comparable sales for company
restaurants  increased  3.2 percent,  reflecting an increase in guest traffic of
approximately  2.0  to  2.5  percent,  combined  with a  higher  average  check.
System-wide  comparable sales increased 2.5 percent for the December period, and
comparable  sales for  franchise  restaurants  increased  2.4 percent.  December
results were negatively  affected by more severe winter weather that occurred on
weekends this year,  particularly  in the Midwest and Northeast,  and had a more
adverse impact on company restaurants than franchise  restaurants because of the
geographic   concentration  of  company  markets.   In  addition,   the  Skillet
Sensations(TM)  promotion,  which ran for the entire  month,  had a lower  price
point  than the prior year  promotion,  resulting  in a  negative  impact on the
average check.

System-wide  comparable  sales for the  fourth  quarter  of 2003  increased  4.6
percent,  the 22nd consecutive  quarter of comparable sales growth.  Company and
franchise  restaurant  comparable  sales  increased 5.2 percent and 4.4 percent,
respectively,  for the quarter. System-wide comparable sales for the 2003 fiscal
year increased 4.1 percent,  exceeding the company's most recent guidance of 3.5
to 4.0 percent,  and reflecting  the highest  annual rate of growth  experienced
since 1993.  Company and franchise  restaurant  comparable  sales  increased 5.2
percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, for the year.

Total  system-wide sales for the 2003 fiscal year increased by 10.9 percent over
2002. For the 11th consecutive  year, the Applebee's  system opened at least 100
new restaurants, including 26 company and 74 franchise restaurants.

                                    - more -

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<PAGE>



The  company  completed  the  rollout of its  Carside  To Go(TM)  program in all
company restaurants in November, with the percentage of company restaurant sales
increasing  from 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2002 to 8.0 percent in the
fourth quarter of 2003.

General and  administrative  expenses for the fourth quarter are now expected to
be in the mid-10 percent range,  higher than the company's previous guidance due
primarily to an increase in stock-based  compensation expense as a result of the
24 percent appreciation in the company's stock price during the fourth quarter.

As a result of the  foregoing,  diluted  earnings per share for fiscal year 2003
are now expected to be $1.74, in the middle of the company's  previously  stated
range of guidance,  excluding the $0.10 charge in the second quarter relating to
the Chevys' note, with fourth quarter diluted  earnings per share expected to be
41 cents.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

The company also  provided  guidance as to its business  outlook for fiscal year
2004.

     o   Approximately  100 new  restaurants  are  expected  to  open  in  2004,
         including  at  least  28  company  restaurants  and 70 to 80  franchise
         restaurants.  At least 10 company restaurants are currently expected to
         open in the first  half of the year,  with the  balance  opening in the
         second half of the year.  Approximately 20 to 25 franchise  restaurants
         are expected to open in the first half of the year,  with the remainder
         opening in the second half of the year.

     o   System-wide  comparable  sales are  expected  to increase by at least 3
         percent for the full year,  although  monthly sales results may be more
         volatile  given  the  geopolitical  environment,  economic  conditions,
         calendar shifts, prior year comparisons, or other unusual events.

     o   Overall restaurant margins before pre-opening expense for the full year
         of 2004 are expected to be similar to fiscal year 2003 results.

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

     o   Capital  expenditures are expected to be between $80 and $90 million in
         2004.

                                    - more -

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<PAGE>



     o   Based on the  foregoing  assumptions,  diluted  earnings  per share for
         fiscal  year  2004 are  expected  to be in the range of $1.98 to $2.02,
         including  the impact of potential  stock  repurchase  activity.  As of
         December 28, 2003, $99.8 million remains  available under the company's
         ongoing stock repurchase authorization.

The company will release  complete  fourth  quarter and fiscal year 2003 results
after the market closes on February 11, 2004, and a conference call will be held
on Thursday  morning,  February 12, 2004, 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., develops,
franchises and operates  restaurants under the Applebee's  Neighborhood  Grill &
Bar brand,  the largest casual dining  concept in the world.  As of December 28,
2003, there were 1,585 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).

Certain statements contained in this release, including expected results for the
fourth  quarter  of 2003 and  fiscal  year  2004  guidance  as set  forth in the
Business Outlook section, 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 ability of its franchisees to obtain  financing,  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  12,  2003.  The company  disclaims  any
obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


                                      # # #








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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:    January 12, 2004                    By:/s/ Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ---------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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