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)       January 13, 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 January 13, 2003, Applebee's  International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release entitled "Applebee's International  Reports  December Comparable
Sales; Updates Fourth  Quarter Earnings  Guidance and  2003 Outlook." The  press
release contained the following information.




                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


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



           Applebee's International Reports December Comparable Sales;
            Updates Fourth Quarter Earnings Guidance and 2003 Outlook

Overland  Park,  Kan.,  January  13,  2003  --  Applebee's  International,  Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB)  today reported  comparable  sales for the five-week  period ended
December 29, 2002. The Thanksgiving  holiday shifted from the company's November
fiscal period in 2001 to the company's  December fiscal period in 2002 and had a
negative impact on December comparable sales results of approximately 2.5 to 3.0
percent.  In  addition  to the  impact  of the shift in  Thanksgiving,  December
results were also  negatively  affected by more severe winter  weather this year
than last year in certain areas of the country.

System-wide  comparable sales increased 1.4 percent for the December period, and
comparable  sales for franchise  restaurants  increased 1.6 percent.  Comparable
sales for company restaurants increased 0.8 percent,  including the 21 franchise
restaurants  in  Washington,  D.C.  acquired on November 7, 2002.  Excluding the
acquired  restaurants,  comparable sales for company  restaurants  increased 1.0
percent,  reflecting a decrease in guest traffic of  approximately  0.5 percent,
offset by a higher average check.

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,
exceeding  the  company's  previously  stated  guidance of at least 2.5 percent.
Franchise and company restaurant  comparable sales increased 3.6 percent and 1.8
percent, respectively, for the year.

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 10.9  percent  over 2001
system sales. For the tenth  consecutive year, the Applebee's system opened over
100 new restaurants, including 26 company and 81 franchise restaurants.

                                    - more -

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<PAGE>



Comparable  sales of the new Applebee's  gift card increased by  approximately 9
percent in company  restaurants during the December period.  Gift card sales are
recognized in the period in which they are redeemed.

Consistent with current analyst estimates, diluted earnings per share for fiscal
year 2002 are now  expected  to be in the range of $1.45 to $1.46,  with  fourth
quarter  diluted  earnings  per  share  expected  to be in the range of 35 to 36
cents.


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  provided  guidance as to 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 current economy, calendar shifts, or 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 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        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 $1.65 to $1.67,
         excluding the impact of any additional franchise  acquisitions or stock
         repurchase  activity.  As of December 29, 2002,  $69.5 million  remains
         available under the company's ongoing stock repurchase authorization.

                                    - more -

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<PAGE>



The company will release  complete  fourth  quarter and fiscal year 2002 results
after the market closes on February 12, 2003, and a conference call 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 and
Bar brand,  the largest casual dining  concept in the world.  As of December 29,
2002, there were 1,496 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).

Certain  statements  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 July 16, 2002. The
company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.


                                      # # #



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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:    January 13, 2003                   By: /s/  Steven K. Lumpkin
         ---------------------                 ------------------------
                                               Steven K. Lumpkin
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



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