<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM FROM 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>                                  0.15 
<FN>
<F1> Includes $195,204 of videocassette rental inventory.
<F2> Includes  $103,022 of  accumulated  amortization  on  videocassette  rental
     inventory.
</FN>