-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GNinijHQC5wvhmKjaYJZ2zJbjNvDVFvgGNLtKlj18p3TOCbp+9dZfZ03Z01aZoa9
 d6t5PPjzVVUxH5+wi/b4kw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000853665-03-000278.txt : 20031118
<SEC-HEADER>0000853665-03-000278.hdr.sgml : 20031118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031118130803
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000853665-03-000278
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TILDEN REBECCA R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001270276

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17962
		FILM NUMBER:		031010001

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O APPLEBEE S INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		4551 W 107TH ST
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9139674000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APPLEBEES INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000853665
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				431461763
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1227

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4551 W 107TH ST STE 100
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66207
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9139674000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4551 W 107TH STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66207
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000853665</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLEBEES INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APPB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001270276</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TILDEN REBECCA R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President/General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-11-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-11-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rebecca R. Tilden</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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