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)        September 5, 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 September 5, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a  press  release  entitled " Applebee's International Announces Court Extension
of  Approval  Date for Sale of Apple  Capitol Restaurants."  The  press  release
contained the following information.



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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


         APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES COURT EXTENSION OF APPROVAL
                   DATE FOR SALE OF APPLE CAPITOL RESTAURANTS

OVERLAND  PARK,   KAN.,  Sept.  5,  2002  --  Applebee's   International,   Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  announced  today that on  September  4, 2002,  the United  States
Bankruptcy  Court for the  Southern  District of Florida,  which is handling the
Apple Capitol Group, LLC voluntary Chapter 11 proceeding,  extended the date for
the final sale approval  hearing from September 13th to October 8th.  Applebee's
International  has  previously  announced the potential  acquisition of these 21
franchise  restaurants located in the Washington,  D.C. area from Apple Capitol,
an  existing  franchisee.  The  company  continues  to expect to close under its
negotiated  purchase  agreement  to  acquire  the 21  restaurants  in the fourth
quarter  of  2002,  subject  to  normal  bankruptcy  court  bidding  procedures,
obtaining operating licenses and other third-party consents.

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
1,450  Applebee's  restaurants  operating  system-wide  in 49  states  and seven
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:      September 5, 2002                By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 -----------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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