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)        November 7, 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 November 7, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company")  issued
a press release entitled " Applebee's International Completes  Acquisition of 21
Franchise Restaurants." The press release contained the following information.





                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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



                       APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL COMPLETES
                    ACQUISITION OF 21 FRANCHISE RESTAURANTS


OVERLAND  PARK,  KAN.,  November  7,  2002  --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  announced  today that it has completed the  previously  announced
acquisition of 21 franchise restaurants located in the Washington, D.C. area.

Lloyd L. Hill, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We welcome this team
of  associates  to Applebee's  International,  and look forward to  accelerating
development in this market. The addition of these restaurants brings our company
ownership to 24 percent of the system total."

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
1,473  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:      November 7, 2002                 By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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