<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-04-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-06-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUL-06-1997
<CASH>                                               1,050                                            
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        1,002
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0 
<INVENTORY>                                         10,296
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    16,687
<PP&E>                                             258,019<F1>
<DEPRECIATION>                                     111,458<F2>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     261,429
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                               27,151
<BONDS>                                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                                13
<OTHER-SE>                                         147,504
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       261,429
<SALES>                                             19,378
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   127,006
<CGS>                                               11,266
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      122,523
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   3,042
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      1,441
<INCOME-TAX>                                           648
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                    793
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                           793
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.06
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.06

<FN>
<F1> INCLUDES $183,416 OF VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL INVENTORY.
<F2> INCLUDES $89,863 OF ACCUMULATED AMORTIZATION ON VIDEOCASSETTE RENTAL
     INVENTORY.
</FN>