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)       April 18, 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 9.           Regulation FD Disclosure

     On April 18, 2002, Applebee's  International,  Inc.(the "Company") issued a
press release entitled "Applebee's International to Broadcast First Quarter 2002
Earnings  Conference  Call Over the Internet."  The press release  contained the
following information.





                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


            Applebee's International to Broadcast First Quarter 2002
                   Earnings Conference Call Over the Internet


Overland  Park,  Kan.,  April  18,  2002  --  Applebee's   International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  will be releasing  first quarter 2002  earnings  after the market
closes on Wednesday,  April 24, 2002,  and will be hosting a conference  call to
review the results on Thursday  morning,  April 25, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.  Central
Daylight Time (11:00 a.m.  Eastern  Daylight Time).  The conference call will be
broadcast live over the Internet.

To listen to the conference call, please go to the Investor Relations section of
the  company's  website  (www.applebees.com)  at least 15  minutes  prior to the
commencement of the call to register,  download, and install any necessary audio
software. A replay will be available shortly after the call.

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 1,406 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:    April 18, 2002                    By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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