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)          December 1, 2003
                                                --------------------------------

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 December 1, 2003, Applebee's  International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press  release  entitled "Applebee's International Reports November Comparable
Sales." The release contained the following information.



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

           Applebee's International Reports November Comparable Sales

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  December  1,  2003  --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported  comparable  sales for the four-week  period ended
November 23, 2003.

Comparable sales for company restaurants increased 6.1 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  6.5 percent,  reflecting an increase in guest traffic of
approximately  4.5  to  5.0  percent,  combined  with a  higher  average  check.
System-wide  comparable sales increased 5.1 percent for the November period, and
comparable sales for franchise restaurants increased 4.8 percent.

November  comparable sales were negatively impacted by approximately 0.6 percent
due to Halloween falling on a Friday in 2003 as compared to Thursday in 2002.

Comparable sales for company restaurants for the  quarter-to-date  period (eight
weeks) have increased 6.7 percent,  with  system-wide  and franchise  comparable
sales up 5.9 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively.

The company  reaffirmed  its guidance for fiscal year 2003 diluted  earnings per
share in a range of $1.73 to $1.75,  excluding  the $0.10  charge in the  second
quarter relating to the Chevys' note and the impact of any additional  franchise
acquisitions or stock repurchase activity.

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 November 23,
2003, there were 1,564 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).

                                      # # #


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                                   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:       December 1, 2003               By: /s/    Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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