<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000852772-16-000196.txt : 20161208
<SEC-HEADER>0000852772-16-000196.hdr.sgml : 20161208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161208184452
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000852772-16-000196
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161208

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:			Van Pelt Jill A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001622531

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18051
		FILM NUMBER:		162042516

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		203 EAST MAIN STREET
		CITY:			SPARTANBURG
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29319
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_148124067952644.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
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    <periodOfReport>2016-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001622531</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Van Pelt Jill A</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. V.P., Chief People Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>67119</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3800</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.7227</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-03-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4800.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>600.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-07-02</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option, granted on 03/06/07 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>
        <footnote id="F2">The option, granted on 07/02/07 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>
        <footnote id="F3">The option, granted on 07/02/07 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 Jill A. Van Pelt</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
