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 12, 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)


                                       1

<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events

     On February 12, 2003, Applebee's International, Inc.(the "Company") issued
a  press  release  entitled " Applebee's  International Reports  Fourth  Quarter
Earnings Per Share of 36 Cents and Record  Full  Year 2002 Earnings Per Share of
$1.46."  The press release contained the following information.



                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

       Applebee's International Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings Per Share
        of 36 Cents and Record Full Year 2002 Earnings Per Share of $1.46

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  February  12,  2003 --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported net earnings of $20.3 million,  or 37 cents and 36
cents per share on a basic  and  diluted  basis,  respectively,  for the  fourth
quarter  ended  December 29,  2002,  as compared to 23 cents per share on both a
basic and diluted basis for the fourth quarter of 2001 (including a $4.1 million
or 7 cents per share  after-tax  charge  relating  to  refinancing  costs in the
fourth quarter of 2001).  Excluding such  refinancing  costs,  net earnings were
$17.1 million,  or 31 cents and 30 cents per share on a basic and diluted basis,
respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2001.

For the fiscal year ended  December 29, 2002,  net earnings  were a record $83.0
million,   or  $1.49  and  $1.46  per  share  on  a  basic  and  diluted  basis,
respectively,  as  compared  to $1.16 and $1.13 per share on a basic and diluted
basis,  respectively,  for fiscal year 2001 (including a $4.1 million or 7 cents
per  share  after-tax  charge  relating  to  refinancing  costs in  2001).  This
represents an increase in earnings per share of 21 percent as compared to fiscal
year 2001  earnings of $1.23 and $1.20 per share on a basic and  diluted  basis,
respectively, excluding such refinancing costs.

As previously reported,  system-wide  comparable sales for the fourth quarter of
2002 increased 3.4 percent,  the 18th  consecutive  quarter of comparable  sales
growth.  Franchise and company restaurant comparable sales increased 3.5 percent
and 2.7 percent, respectively, for the quarter. System-wide comparable sales for
the 2002 fiscal year  increased 3.2 percent.  Franchise  and company  restaurant
comparable  sales increased 3.6 percent and 1.8 percent,  respectively,  for the
year.


                                        2


<PAGE>


Lloyd L. Hill,  chairman and chief executive  officer,  said, "Our strong fourth
quarter  results capped a terrific year for  Applebee's.  We continued to expand
our market share with system-wide sales growing by 11 percent,  exceeding the $3
billion mark for the first time. We also opened over 100 new restaurants for the
10th consecutive  year.  System-wide  comparable sales growth of 3.2 percent for
the year  substantially  exceeded the casual dining industry average as measured
by Knapp-Track, despite significant declines in consumer confidence and a weaker
economy."

Hill continued,  "Earnings per share growth  exceeded 21 percent,  and return on
equity was over 23 percent  for the year,  well above our 20 percent  target and
one of the  highest  levels  in the  industry.  We  achieved  record  management
retention levels,  continued to improve our food and menu, completed the rollout
of the  first  phase of our To Go  initiative  and  acquired  21  stores  from a
franchisee in the Washington, D.C. market."

Hill  concluded,  "This year is off to a great  start with  outstanding  January
sales results, the opening of our 1500th restaurant,  and our recently announced
plans to acquire 11 franchise  restaurants.  We believe that our  strategies are
right on target to drive future sales and earnings growth."

Other  results for the fourth  quarter and fiscal year ended  December  29, 2002
included:

o      System-wide sales for the Applebee's  concept were a record $3.24 billion
       for the fiscal year ended  December 29,  2002,  an increase of 11 percent
       over 2001 system sales.

o      Operating  revenues  (comprised of company restaurant sales and franchise
       income)  reached  $827  million  for the fiscal  year,  an increase of 11
       percent over 2001 operating  revenues of $744 million.  Franchise  income
       exceeded $100 million for the first time in fiscal year 2002.

o      Applebee's ended the year with 1,496 restaurants system-wide (357 company
       and  1,139  franchise   restaurants).   There  were  107  new  Applebee's
       restaurants   opened  system-wide  during  fiscal  year  2002,  the  10th
       consecutive  year  of over  100 new  restaurant  openings,  including  26
       company and 81 franchised restaurants.

o      During 2002, the company repurchased  1,210,000 shares of common stock at
       an average price of $21.58 for an aggregate cost of $26.1 million.  As of
       December 29, 2002,  $69.5 million  remains  available under the company's
       ongoing stock repurchase authorization.

o      As of December 29, 2002,  the company had total debt  outstanding  of $53
       million,  with over $90  million  available  under its  revolving  credit
       facility.

                                       3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

                                                              13 Weeks Ended                   52 Weeks Ended
                                                       ------------------------------   ------------------------------
                                                        December 29,    December 30,     December 29,     December 30,
                                                           2002            2001              2002             2001
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>             <C>               <C>
Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales......................      $187,943        $ 164,703       $ 724,616         $ 651,119
     Franchise income..............................        25,823           23,319         102,180            93,225
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total operating revenues...................       213,766          188,022         826,796           744,344
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Cost of company restaurant sales:
     Food and beverage.............................        50,179           44,550         192,424           175,977
     Labor.........................................        61,874           53,699         238,266           208,996
     Direct and occupancy..........................        47,595           41,643         181,767           164,965
     Pre-opening expense...........................           542              802           1,974             1,701
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total cost of company restaurant sales.....       160,190          140,694         614,431           551,639
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
General and administrative expenses................        22,290           18,487          81,138            72,935
Amortization of intangible assets..................            96            1,463             381             5,851
Loss (gain) on disposition of restaurants and
     equipment.....................................         (341)              405           1,138             1,492
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Operating earnings.................................        31,531           26,973         129,708           112,427
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Other income (expense):
     Investment income.............................           374              399           1,498             1,650
     Interest expense..............................          (566)          (1,225)         (2,168)           (7,456)
     Other income (expense) (a)....................             2           (5,517)          1,098            (4,720)
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total other income (expense)...............          (190)          (6,343)            428           (10,526)
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Earnings before income taxes.......................        31,341           20,630         130,136           101,901
Income taxes (a)...................................        11,049            7,592          47,109            37,500
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Net earnings.......................................      $ 20,292        $  13,038       $  83,027         $  64,401
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============

Basic net earnings per common share (b)............      $   0.37        $    0.23       $    1.49         $    1.16
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============
Diluted net earnings per common share (b)..........      $   0.36        $    0.23       $    1.46         $    1.13
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============

Basic weighted average shares outstanding (b)......        55,212           55,636          55,605            55,512
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (b)....        56,512           57,163          56,922            56,877
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============
</TABLE>

(a)    As a  result  of  the  adoption  of  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting
       Standards No. 145, the  extraordinary  loss from early  extinguishment of
       debt of  $1,249,000  and the related  tax benefit of $727,000  previously
       recognized  in  the  fourth   quarter  of  fiscal  year  2001  have  been
       reclassified to other expense.

(b)    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                    52 Weeks Ended
                                                        ----------------------------    ------------------------------
                                                        December 29,    December 30,     December 29,     December 30,
                                                           2002            2001              2002             2001
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
<S>                                                        <C>             <C>              <C>              <C>
Revenues:
     Company restaurant sales......................          87.9%           87.6%            87.6%            87.5%
     Franchise income..............................          12.1            12.4             12.4             12.5
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total operating revenues...................         100.0%          100.0%           100.0%           100.0%
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============

Cost of sales (as a percentage of company
     restaurant sales):
     Food and beverage.............................          26.7%           27.0%            26.6%            27.0%
     Labor.........................................          32.9            32.6             32.9             32.1
     Direct and occupancy..........................          25.3            25.3             25.1             25.3
     Pre-opening expense...........................           0.3             0.5              0.3              0.3
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total cost of sales........................          85.2%           85.4%            84.8%            84.7%
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============
General and administrative expenses................          10.4%            9.8%             9.8%             9.8%
Amortization of intangible assets..................            --             0.8               --              0.8
Loss (gain) on disposition of restaurants and
     equipment.....................................          (0.2)            0.2              0.1              0.2
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Operating earnings.................................          14.8            14.3             15.7             15.1
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Other income (expense):
     Investment income.............................           0.2             0.2              0.2              0.2
     Interest expense..............................          (0.3)           (0.7)            (0.3)            (1.0)
     Other income (expense)........................            --            (2.9)             0.1             (0.6)
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
        Total other income (expense)...............          (0.1)           (3.4)             0.1             (1.4)
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Earnings before income taxes.......................          14.7            11.0             15.7             13.7
Income taxes.......................................           5.2             4.0              5.7              5.0
                                                       -------------   --------------   -------------    -------------
Net earnings.......................................           9.5%            6.9%            10.0%             8.7%
                                                       =============   ==============   =============    =============

</TABLE>



                                       5

<PAGE>


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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

<S>                                                                                   <C>                <C>
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents...................................................      $   15,169         $   22,048
     Short-term investments, at market value.....................................             503                699
     Receivables, net of allowance...............................................          27,895             22,827
     Inventories.................................................................          11,504             10,165
     Prepaid and other current assets............................................          14,508             12,260
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
        Total current assets.....................................................          69,579             67,999
Property and equipment, net......................................................         383,002            330,924
Goodwill, net....................................................................          88,715             78,614
Franchise interest and rights, net...............................................           1,468              1,800
Other assets.....................................................................          23,350             21,074
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
                                                                                       $  566,114         $  500,411
                                                                                      ==============     =============


                      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities:
     Current portion of long-term debt...........................................      $      377         $       43
     Accounts payable............................................................          27,479             22,196
     Accrued expenses and other current liabilities..............................          84,007             71,551
     Accrued dividends...........................................................           3,323              2,977
     Accrued income taxes........................................................              --                979
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
        Total current liabilities................................................         115,186             97,746
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
Non-current liabilities:
     Long-term debt - less current portion.......................................          52,186             74,525
     Other non-current liabilities...............................................           6,161              2,957
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
        Total non-current liabilities............................................          58,347             77,482
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
        Total liabilities........................................................         173,533            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..................................................         187,523            180,802
     Retained earnings...........................................................         434,621            354,950
     Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of income taxes ................              16                 14
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
                                                                                          622,883            536,489
     Treasury stock - 16,948,371 shares in 2002 and 16,522,099 shares in 2001,
        at cost..................................................................        (230,302)          (211,306)
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
        Total stockholders' equity...............................................         392,581            325,183
                                                                                      --------------     -------------
                                                                                       $  566,114         $  500,411
                                                                                      ==============     =============
</TABLE>


Fiscal year 2002 financial statements have not yet been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                                       # # #


                                       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 updated its business outlook for fiscal year 2003.

o      Approximately 100 new restaurants are expected to open in 2003, including
       25 company restaurants and 70 to 80 franchise restaurants.  Seven company
       restaurants are currently expected to open in the first half of the year,
       with the balance opening in the second half of the year. Approximately 20
       to 25 franchise restaurants are expected to open in the first half of the
       year, with the remainder opening in the second half of the year.

o      System-wide  comparable  sales are  expected  to  increase  by at least 3
       percent for the full year,  although  monthly  sales  results may be more
       volatile given the geo-political  environment,  current economy, calendar
       shifts, or other unusual events.

o      Overall  restaurant  margins before  pre-opening  expense are expected to
       increase  slightly  in 2003 as a result of higher  sales  volumes and the
       impact of the  recent  acquisition  of 21  franchise  restaurants  in the
       Washington, D.C. market.

o      General  and  administrative  expenses,  as  a  percentage  of  operating
       revenues, are expected to be in the mid-9 percent range.

o      The effective  income tax rate is currently  expected to continue at 36.2
       percent in 2003.

o      The company expects to complete the recently announced  acquisition of 11
       franchise restaurants from an existing franchisee in late March.

o      Excluding the cost of this acquisition, capital expenditures are expected
       to be between $65 and $75 million in 2003.

o      Based on the foregoing assumptions, diluted earnings per share for fiscal
       year 2003 are  expected  to be in the range of $1.66 to $1.68,  excluding
       the impact of any additional  franchise  acquisitions or stock repurchase
       activity.




<PAGE>


A conference  call to review the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2002 results and
the current  business  outlook  will be held on Thursday  morning,  February 13,
2003, 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 &
Bar brand,  the largest casual dining concept in the world.  There are currently
1,506  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).

Certain  statements  contained 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 February
12, 2003. 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:    February 12, 2003                  By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



                                       8