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 10, 2005
                                 -----------------------------------------------

                         APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


           DELAWARE                   000-17962                43-1461763
------------------------------     ----------------     ------------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction        (Commission            (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)             File Number)         Identification No.)


   4551 W. 107th Street, Overland Park, Kansas                    66207
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip Code)



                                 (913) 967-4000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                      None
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act 17 CFR
     230.425)

[  ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange  Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant   to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ] Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to   Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

<PAGE>

Item 2.02  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

     On January 10, 2005, Applebee's International,  Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release entitled "Applebee's  International  Reports December Comparable
Sales;  Updates 2004 Earnings  Guidance and Provides 2005  Outlook." The release
contains  comparables  sales for  the  fourth  quarter  and full  year  2004 and
is attached as Exhibit 99.1.


Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

     The release also contains a Business Outlook section for fiscal year 2005.


Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     (c)   Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith:

           99.1     Applebee's International Reports  December Comparable Sales;
                    Updates 2004 Earnings Guidance and Provides 2005 Outlook


                                       2
<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 hereunto duly authorized.

     Date: January 10, 2005

                                   APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.


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


                                       3
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number                                   Description
--------     -------------------------------------------------------------------
99.1         Applebee's International Reports December Comparable Sales; Updates
             2004 Earnings Guidance and Provides 2005 Outlook



                                       4