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 30, 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 April 30, 2002,  Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued a
press  release  entitled  "Applebee's  International  Reports  April  Comparable
Sales." The press release contained the following information.




                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


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

             Applebee's International Reports April Comparable Sales

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  April  30,  2002  --  Applebee's   International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported  comparable  sales for the four-week  period ended
April 28, 2002. System-wide comparable sales increased 4.6 percent for the April
period,  and comparable sales for franchise  restaurants  increased 4.8 percent.
Comparable sales for company  restaurants  increased 3.9 percent,  reflecting an
increase in guest traffic of approximately  2.0 percent,  combined with a higher
average check.

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 1,409 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 30, 2002                    By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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