<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>