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)       February 24, 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 February 24, 2003, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release entitled "Applebee's  International  Reports February 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 February Comparable Sales

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  February  24,  2003 --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported  comparable  sales for the four-week  period ended
February 23, 2003.

Comparable sales for company restaurants increased 3.4 percent, including the 21
franchise  restaurants in Washington,  D.C. acquired in November 2002. Excluding
the acquired restaurants, comparable sales for company restaurants increased 3.9
percent,  reflecting  an  increase  in guest  traffic  in excess  of 2  percent,
combined with a higher average check. System-wide comparable sales increased 2.1
percent for the February period, and comparable sales for franchise  restaurants
increased 1.7 percent.

The severe winter weather  experienced  over the  President's Day weekend across
portions  of 23 states  in the  Mid-Atlantic,  Northeast  and  Midwest  affected
approximately  40 percent  of the  restaurants  in the  Applebee's  system.  The
negative  impact of the  weather on  February  system-wide  comparable  sales is
estimated  to be between 1.5 and 2.0  percent.  Excluding  the  President's  Day
weekend,  system-wide  comparable  sales  for the  month  were  well  above  the
company's full-year guidance of at least 3 percent.

Comparable sales for company restaurants for the  quarter-to-date  period (eight
weeks) have increased 3.8 percent,  with  system-wide  and franchise  comparable
sales up 2.7 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.

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 February 23,
2003, there were 1,507 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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<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:     February 24, 2003                 By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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