<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                     0000925178
<NAME>                           Movie Gallery, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        JAN-04-1998                                                 
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-06-1997
<PERIOD-END>                             APR-06-1997
<CASH>                                         4,972
<SECURITIES>                                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    910
<ALLOWANCES>                                       0
<INVENTORY>                                   11,078
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              20,974
<PP&E>                                       266,013<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                               121,890<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               264,823
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         30,552
<BONDS>                                            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                          13
<OTHER-SE>                                   148,707
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 264,823
<SALES>                                       10,095
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              65,678
<CGS>                                          5,705
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 60,962
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,496
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                3,220
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,224
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1,996
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1,996
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   0.15
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      0
 
<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES $195,204 OF VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL INVENTORY.
<F2> INCLUDES $103,022 OF ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION ON VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL
     INVENTORY.
</FN>