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)        October 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)


                                       1

<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events

     On October 30, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc.(the "Company") issued a
press release entitled " Applebee's International Reports 23 Percent Increase in
Third  Quarter  Diluted Earnings  Per  Share of 37  Cents."  The  press  release
contained the following information.




                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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




              Applebee's International Reports 23 Percent Increase
             in Third Quarter Diluted Earnings Per Share of 37 Cents

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  October  30,  2002  --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported net earnings of $21.0 million,  or 38 cents and 37
cents  per  share on a basic  and  diluted  basis,  respectively,  for the third
quarter ended  September 29, 2002.  This  represents an increase in earnings per
share of 27 percent and 23 percent on a basic and diluted  basis,  respectively,
as compared  with 30 cents per share on both a basic and  diluted  basis for the
third quarter of 2001.

System-wide  comparable  sales exceeded the company's  expectation of at least 2
percent,  increasing  2.8 percent for the third  quarter,  the 17th  consecutive
quarter of comparable  sales growth.  Comparable sales increased 3.1 percent for
franchise  restaurants  and 1.7  percent for  company  restaurants.  System-wide
comparable sales for the  year-to-date  period through  September  increased 3.1
percent,  with franchise and company restaurant  comparable sales up 3.6 percent
and 1.5 percent, respectively.

The company also  reported  comparable  sales for the September  fiscal  period,
comprised of the five weeks ended  September  29, 2002.  System-wide  comparable
sales  increased  4.7 percent,  reflecting a 5.0 percent  increase for franchise
restaurants and a 3.6 percent increase for company restaurants.  The increase in
comparable sales for company  restaurants  reflects an increase in guest traffic
of 5.0 to 5.5 percent, offset in part by a lower average check.

In  addition,  the company  reported  comparable  sales for the  October  fiscal
period,  comprised  of the  four  weeks  ended  October  27,  2002.  System-wide
comparable  sales  increased 4.1 percent,  including a 4.3 percent  increase for
franchise  restaurants and a 3.3 percent increase for company  restaurants.  The
increase in  comparable  sales for company  restaurants  reflects an increase in
guest traffic of 2.0 to 2.5 percent as well as a higher average check.

Lloyd L. Hill, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "We were excited that
system-wide   comparable  sales  for  the  quarter  exceeded  our  expectations,
reflecting a strong value proposition with our All You Can Eat Riblets promotion
in August and September.  Our strong traffic results for the quarter and October
are especially encouraging given uncertainty surrounding the overall economy."


                                       2
<PAGE>


Mr. Hill  continued,  "We believe  that our To Go  initiative  will  continue to
contribute to driving sales by leveraging our position as the most  conveniently
located concept in casual dining. The roll-out of Phase I of this initiative was
completed during the quarter,  and we are pleased with the initial results which
are  exceeding  our  expectations.  In  addition,  we  currently  have  over 150
restaurants  testing a variety  of  curbside  alternatives.  We will  launch the
curbside  phase of our To Go  initiative  next year to continue  building  sales
momentum surrounding this key convenience occasion for our guests."

Mr. Hill  concluded,  "We believe that the  strategies we outlined in May are on
target to drive future sales  growth.  These  strategies  include the  continued
improvement of our food and menu, coupled with compelling promotions,  effective
advertising   campaigns  and  our  sizable  network  television  presence.   Our
operations  excellence  initiatives  surrounding  supply chain,  technology  and
people are gaining momentum. We remain optimistic about our future."

Other results for the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 29,
2002 included:

o    Net earnings for the 39-week  period  ended  September  29, 2002 were $62.7
     million, or $1.12 and $1.10 per share, respectively, on a basic and diluted
     basis.  This  compares to net  earnings in the same period of 2001 of $51.4
     million, or 93 cents and 91 cents per share,  respectively,  on a basic and
     diluted basis.  This  represents an increase in basic and diluted  earnings
     per share of 20 percent and 21 percent, respectively.

o    System-wide  sales for the Applebee's  concept were a record $822.6 million
     for the third  quarter,  an  increase  of 10 percent  over the prior  year.
     System-wide  sales for the 39-week period ended September 29, 2002 exceeded
     $2.4 billion, an increase of 11 percent.

o    Operating  revenues  (comprised of company  restaurant  sales and franchise
     income)  increased 11 percent for the third  quarter and 10 percent for the
     year-to-date period.

o    Applebee's  ended the  quarter  with  1,458  restaurants  system-wide  (329
     company and 1,129 franchise restaurants). During the third quarter of 2002,
     there were 37 new Applebee's  restaurants opened system-wide,  including 11
     company and 26 franchised restaurants.

o    As of September  29, 2002,  the company had total debt  outstanding  of $39
     million,  with over $110  million  available  under  its  revolving  credit
     facility.

o    The company repurchased 835,000 shares of common stock in the third quarter
     at an  average  price of $21.31  for an  aggregate  cost of $17.8  million.
     During 2002,  the company has  repurchased  1,210,000  shares at an average
     price of $21.58 for an aggregate cost of $26.1 million. As of September 29,
     2002, $69.5 million remains available under previous authorizations.

                                       3
<PAGE>







                 APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                                   (Unaudited)
                    (in thousands, except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              13 Weeks Ended                   39 Weeks Ended
                                                       ------------------------------   ------------------------------
                                                       September 29,    September 30,   September 29,    September 30,
                                                           2002            2001              2002             2001
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
<S>                                                    <C>              <C>             <C>              <C>
Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales....................       $ 182,807        $ 164,238       $ 536,673        $ 486,416
     Franchise income............................          26,033           23,787          76,357           69,906
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total operating revenues.................         208,840          188,025         613,030          556,322
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Cost of company restaurant sales:
     Food and beverage...........................          47,765           44,489         142,245          131,427
     Labor.......................................          60,054           52,864         176,392          155,297
     Direct and occupancy........................          47,009           41,459         134,172          123,322
     Pre-opening expense.........................             792              632           1,432              899
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total cost of company restaurant sales...         155,620          139,444         454,241          410,945
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
General and administrative expenses..............          20,049           19,197          58,848           54,448
Amortization of intangible assets................              95            1,463             285            4,388
Loss on disposition of restaurants and equipment.             458              329           1,479            1,087
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Operating earnings...............................          32,618           27,592          98,177           85,454
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Other income (expense):
     Investment income...........................             346              479           1,124            1,251
     Interest expense............................            (414)          (1,831)         (1,602)          (6,231)
     Other income................................             513              322           1,096              797
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total other income (expense).............             445           (1,030)            618           (4,183)
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Earnings before income taxes.....................          33,063           26,562          98,795           81,271
Income taxes.....................................          12,068            9,776          36,060           29,908
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Net earnings.....................................       $  20,995        $  16,786       $  62,735        $  51,363
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============

Basic net earnings per common share (a)..........       $    0.38        $    0.30       $    1.12        $    0.93
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============
Diluted net earnings per common share (a)........       $    0.37        $    0.30       $    1.10        $    0.91
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============

Basic weighted average shares outstanding (a)....          55,654           55,366          55,801           55,470
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (a)..          56,714           56,821          57,119           56,736
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============

</TABLE>

(a)  All earnings per share and weighted  average share  information  reflects a
     three-for-two  stock split  effective  at the close of business on June 11,
     2002.

                                       4
<PAGE>


The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated,  information  derived
from the Company's consolidated statements of earnings expressed as a percentage
of total operating revenues,  except where otherwise noted.  Percentages may not
add due to rounding.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                13 Weeks Ended                         39 Weeks Ended
                                                      -----------------------------------    ------------------------------------
                                                       September 29,      September 30,       September 29,       September 30,
                                                           2002                2001               2002                2001
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
<S>                                                        <C>                 <C>                <C>                 <C>
Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales....................            87.5%               87.3%              87.5%               87.4%
     Franchise income............................            12.5                12.7               12.5                12.6
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
        Total operating revenues.................           100.0%              100.0%             100.0%              100.0%
                                                      ================    ===============    ================    ================
Cost of sales (as a percentage of company
     restaurant sales):
     Food and beverage...........................            26.1%               27.1%              26.5%               27.0%
     Labor.......................................            32.9                32.2               32.9                31.9
     Direct and occupancy........................            25.7                25.2               25.0                25.4
     Pre-opening expense.........................             0.4                 0.4                0.3                 0.2
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
        Total cost of sales......................            85.1%               84.9%              84.6%               84.5%
                                                      ================    ===============    ================    ================
General and administrative expenses..............             9.6%               10.2%               9.6%                9.8%
Amortization of intangible assets................             --                  0.8                --                  0.8
Loss on disposition of restaurants and equipment.             0.2                 0.2                0.2                 0.2
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
Operating earnings...............................            15.6                14.7               16.0                15.4
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
Other income (expense):
     Investment income...........................             0.2                 0.3                0.2                 0.2
     Interest expense............................            (0.2)               (1.0)              (0.3)               (1.1)
     Other income................................             0.2                 0.2                0.2                 0.1
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
        Total other income (expense).............             0.2                (0.5)               0.1                (0.8)
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
Earnings before income taxes.....................            15.8                14.1               16.1                14.6
Income taxes.....................................             5.8                 5.2                5.9                 5.4
                                                      ----------------    ---------------    ----------------    ----------------
Net earnings.....................................            10.1%                8.9%              10.2%                9.2%
                                                      ================    ===============    ================    ================

</TABLE>

                                       5
<PAGE>


                 APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                   (Unaudited)
                      (in thousands, except share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                             September 29,      December 30,
                                                                                                2002               2001
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
                                     ASSETS

<S>                                                                                         <C>                <C>
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents..........................................................     $    7,522         $   22,048
     Short-term investments, at market value (amortized cost of $478 in 2002 and
        $677 in 2001)...................................................................            504                699
     Receivables (less allowance for bad debts of $5,443 in 2002 and $4,343 in 2001)....         25,207             22,827
     Inventories........................................................................          7,070             10,165
     Prepaid and other current assets...................................................         13,782             12,260
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
        Total current assets............................................................         54,085             67,999
Property and equipment, net.............................................................        353,730            330,924
Goodwill, net...........................................................................         78,614             78,614
Franchise interest and rights, net......................................................          1,551              1,800
Other assets............................................................................         20,864             21,074
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
                                                                                             $  508,844         $  500,411
                                                                                            ==============     =============


                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
     Current portion of long-term debt..................................................     $      375         $       43
     Notes payable......................................................................          3,500                 --
     Accounts payable...................................................................         28,106             22,196
     Accrued expenses and other current liabilities.....................................         63,894             71,551
     Accrued dividends..................................................................             --              2,977
     Accrued income taxes...............................................................          1,919                979
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
        Total current liabilities.......................................................         97,794             97,746
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
Non-current liabilities:
     Long-term debt - less current portion..............................................         35,192             74,525
     Franchise deposits.................................................................          1,182              1,515
     Deferred income taxes..............................................................          2,026              1,442
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
        Total non-current liabilities...................................................         38,400             77,482
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
        Total liabilities...............................................................        136,194            175,228
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
Stockholders' equity:
     Preferred stock - par value $0.01 per share:  authorized - 1,000,000 shares;
        no shares issued................................................................             --                 --
     Common stock - par value $0.01 per share:  authorized - 125,000,000 shares;
        issued - 72,336,788 shares......................................................            723                723
     Additional paid-in capital.........................................................        186,055            180,802
     Retained earnings..................................................................        417,652            354,950
     Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes .......................             17                 14
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
                                                                                                604,447            536,489
     Treasury stock - 17,123,011 shares in 2002 and 16,522,099 shares in 2001, at cost..       (231,797)          (211,306)
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
        Total stockholders' equity......................................................        372,650            325,183
                                                                                            --------------     -------------
                                                                                             $  508,844         $  500,411
                                                                                            ==============     =============

</TABLE>

                                       6
<PAGE>

Item 9.           Regulation FD Disclosure

     Applebee's   International,  Inc. (the  "Company") also  included  guidance
regarding its business outlook in the press release. These comments are included
below.


BUSINESS OUTLOOK

The company also provided guidance as to its business outlook for the remainder
of fiscal year 2002.

o    The company expects to complete the previously announced  acquisition of 21
     franchise restaurants located in the Washington, D.C. area from an existing
     franchisee in early November.

o    Excluding  the  cost  of this  acquisition,  capital  expenditures  are now
     expected to be between $63 and $68 million in 2002.

o    Consistent with current analyst  estimates,  diluted earnings per share for
     fiscal  year  2002 are now  expected  to be in the range of $1.44 to $1.45,
     excluding any impact of additional stock repurchases.

A  conference  call to review the third  quarter  2002  results  and the current
business  outlook will be held on Thursday  morning,  October 31, 2002, at 10:00
a.m.  Central  Time (11:00  a.m.  Eastern  Time).  The  conference  call will be
broadcast  live over the Internet and a replay will be available  shortly  after
the  call  on  the  Investor   Relations   section  of  the  company's   website
(www.applebees.com).

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
1,470  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).

Certain  statements  in this  release are  forward  looking and based on current
expectations.  There are several risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described,  including but not limited to
the ability of the company and its  franchisees  to open and operate  additional
restaurants profitably,  the continued growth of its franchisees and its ability
to attract and retain qualified  franchisees,  the impact of intense competition
in the casual  dining  segment of the  restaurant  industry,  and its ability to
control restaurant operating costs which are impacted by market changes, minimum
wage and other  employment  laws,  food  costs  and  inflation.  For  additional
discussion  of the  principal  factors  that could  cause  actual  results to be
materially different,  the reader is referred to the company's current report on
Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2002. The
company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


                                       7
<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:    October 30, 2002                   By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



                                       8