<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000852772-16-000172.txt : 20160902
<SEC-HEADER>0000852772-16-000172.hdr.sgml : 20160902
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160902153544
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000852772-16-000172
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160902
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DENNYS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000852772
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				133487402
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		203 E MAIN ST
		CITY:			SPARTANBURG
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29319
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8645978000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		203 EAST MAIN STREET
		CITY:			SPARTANBURG
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29319

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ADVANTICA RESTAURANT GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980107

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FLAGSTAR COMPANIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930722

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TW HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITHART-OGLESBY DEBRA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241670

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18051
		FILM NUMBER:		161868528
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_147284493230318.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000852772</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DENNYS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DENN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241670</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITHART-OGLESBY DEBRA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>DENNY'S CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>203 EAST MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SPARTANBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29319</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103331</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>122231</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-01-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18900.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-01-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18900.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option, granted on 01/29/08 pursuant to the Denny's Corporation 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan, vests annually in 33 1/3% increments beginning on the first (1st) anniversary of the grant date and expires on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option, granted on 01/23/07 pursuant to the Denny's Corporation 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan, vests annually in 33 1/3% increments beginning on the first (1st) anniversary of the grant date and expires on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Scott Melton for Debra Smithart-Oglesby</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
