<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>                                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         JAN-04-1998
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-06-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              OCT-05-1997
<CASH>                                       1,137
<SECURITIES>                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,067
<ALLOWANCES>                                 0
<INVENTORY>                                  13,409
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             19,853
<PP&E>                                       275,611<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                               128,634<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               263,031
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        30,244
<BONDS>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<COMMON>                                     13
<OTHER-SE>                                   145,835
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 263,031
<SALES>                                      28,162
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             189,566
<CGS>                                        17,028
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                185,984
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             0     
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           4,632
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             (1,050)
<INCOME-TAX>                                (174)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         (876)
<DISCONTINUED>                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              0
<CHANGES>                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                (876)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               (0.07)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0
<FN>
<F1>  INCLUDES $198,656 OF VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL INVENTORY.
<F2>  INCLUDES $104,406 OF ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION ON VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL
      INVENTORY.    
</FN>