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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): October 21, 2003

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

6820 LBJ Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75240
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code    972-980-9917

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

              (c)     Exhibits.

               99   Press Release, dated October 21, 2003.

Item 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

              On October 21, 2003, Brinker International, Inc. issued a Press Release announcing its first quarter fiscal 2004 results.  The information in the Press Release attached hereto as Exhibit 99 is furnished pursuant to Item 12.

SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

EXHIBIT 99

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           

Contacts:  Louis Adams, Media Relations                                    Hil Davis, Investor Relations

                (972) 770-4967                                                                           (972) 770-7228

                        BRINKER INTERNATIONAL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER EARNINGS

DALLAS (Oct. 21, 2003) - Casual dining leader Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE - EAT), reported earnings per share of $0.45 for the company's first quarter ended Sept. 24, 2003.  Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 was $44.6 million or $0.45 diluted earnings per share as compared to $45.0 million or $0.45 per share reported in the same quarter of fiscal 2003.  First quarter fiscal 2003 net income would have been $42.8 million or $0.43 diluted earning per share exclusive of a $2.2 million insurance gain.

Brinker reported first quarter revenues for the 13-week period of $870.9 million, an increase of 12.5 percent compared with the $773.9 million reported for the same period in fiscal 2003.  These revenue gains were primarily driven by a combination of 10.6 percent capacity gains as measured by average-weighted sales weeks and a 1.9 percent increase in comparable store sales for all Brinker concepts.  By brand, quarterly comparable store sales increased 1.9 percent at Chili's, 0.9 percent at Macaroni Grill, 2.4 percent at Maggiano's and 3.2 percent at On The Border.

For the four-week period ending September 24, 2003, comparable store sales increased 1.5 percent. September comparable store sales for the four reported brands were as follows:

                                                     Sept FY '04          Sept FY '03

               Chili's                                   2.0%                      2.2%

               Macaroni Grill     &n
bsp;                -1.2%                    3.0%

               Maggiano's                          1.3%                      9.5%

               On The Border                    4.1%                      -1.1%

Comparable store sales included an overall price increase of 1.1 percent for Brinker International. 
By brand, price increases were 1.1 percent at Chili's, 1.3 percent at Macaroni Grill, 0.8 percent at
On The Border and there was a price decrease of 0.2 percent at Maggiano's.  Product mix-shift
declined by 0.2 percent for Brinker International.  By brand, product mix-shift was flat for Chili's and
Macaroni Grill and declined 0.9 percent at Maggiano's and 1.3 percent at On The Border.  

Brinker's initial estimate for second quarter fiscal 2004 earnings per share is $0.44 to $0.45.  Second
quarter estimates are based on expectations of capacity growth of approximately 9 to 10 percent as
measured by average-weighted sales weeks and comparable store sales growth in the 2 to 4 percent
range.  This comparable store sales range includes a 1 percent benefit due to a favorable holiday shift with
Christmas Day moving from the December period this fiscal year to the January period.