<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000068270</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RUBY TUESDAY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001349005</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Becker Steven R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 CRESCENT COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1111</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>683900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Call Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-05-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-10-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of common stock (&quot;Common Stock&quot;), par value $0.01 per share, of Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) directly beneficially owned by BD Partners III, L.P. (&quot;BD Partners III&quot;) (87,200 shares), Becker Drapkin Partners (QP), L.P. (&quot;Becker Drapkin QP&quot;) (174,485 shares), Becker Drapkin Partners, L.P. (&quot;Becker Drapkin, L.P.&quot;) (30,315 shares), and a managed account (the &quot;Managed Account&quot;) (391,900 shares).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents American-style call options to buy Common Stock directly beneficially owned by Becker Drapkin QP (174,300 underlying shares of Common Stock) and Becker Drapkin, L.P. (25,700 underlying shares of Common Stock).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Steven R. Becker (&quot;Mr. Becker&quot;) may be deemed to beneficially own these securities as he is a co-managing member of BC Advisors, LLC which is the general partner of BD Management, L.P. (&quot;BD Management&quot;) (of which Mr. Becker is a limited partner), and BD Management is the general partner of, and investment manager for, each of BD Partners III, Becker Drapkin QP and Becker Drapkin, L.P. and provides investment advisory services for the Managed Account.  Mr. Becker disclaims beneficial ownership in such shares of Common Stock and options except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew S. McLelland, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
