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 8, 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 8, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued a
press release entitled "Applebee's International Receives Approval to Acquire 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 RECEIVES APPROVAL
                      TO ACQUIRE 21 FRANCHISE RESTAURANTS

OVERLAND  PARK,  KAN.,  October  8,  2002  --  Applebee's  International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  announced  today  that  the  Bankruptcy  Court  for the  Southern
District  of Florida  has entered an order  approving  the sale of 21  franchise
restaurants  located in the  Washington,  D.C.  area  operated by Apple  Capitol
Group,  LLC to Applebee's  International.  Applebee's  International  expects to
close  under  its  previously  negotiated  purchase  agreement  to  acquire  the
restaurants  in the fourth  quarter  of 2002,  subject  to  obtaining  operating
licenses  and  other  third-party  consents.  Under  the  terms of the  purchase
agreement  and an  agreement  entered into with one of Apple  Capitol's  secured
lenders, the total cost will be $34.3 million, subject to adjustment.

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
1,461  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).

                                      # # #





                                       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, thereunto duly authorized.

                                              APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                              (Registrant)


Date:      October 8, 2002                 By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



                                        3