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 12, 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 December 12, 2002,  Applebee's  International,  Inc. (the "Company") issued a
press  release  entitled  "Applebee's  International  Declares  Increased Annual
Dividend." The press release contained the following information.





                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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



           Applebee's International Declares Increased Annual Dividend

     Overland Park, Kan.,  December 12, 2002 -- Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB) has declared an annual dividend of 6 cents per share. The dividend
is payable  January 30, 2003, to shareholders of record as of December 27, 2002.
This is the  company's  13th  consecutive  annual  dividend  and  represents  an
increase  of 12.5  percent  over  last  year's  dividend  of 5 cents  per  share
(adjusted for a three-for-two stock split in June 2002).

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
1,489  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:    December 12, 2002                 By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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