<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>                                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-05-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              JUL-05-1998
<CASH>                                          1,216
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     665
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                     9,756
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               15,647 
<PP&E>                                        270,595<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                                135,339<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                241,619
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          19,267
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                           13
<OTHER-SE>                                    148,951
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  241,619
<SALES>                                        21,130
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              134,153
<CGS>                                          14,197
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 129,045
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              2,968
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 2,140
<INCOME-TAX>                                      813
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             1,327
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    1,327
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.10

<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES $191,681 OF VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL INVENTORY.
<F2> INCLUDES $103,446 OF ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION ON VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL
     INVENTORY.
</FN>