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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000799088</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARMIKE CINEMAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CKEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001315926</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Watershed Asset Management, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MARITIME PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1525</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001315927</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Watershed Capital Partners, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WATERSHED ASSET MANAGEMENT L.L.C.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1525</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001315929</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Watershed Capital Institutional Partners, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WATERSHED ASSET MANAGEMENT L.L.C.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1525</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001315928</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WS Partners, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WATERSHED ASSET MANAGEMENT L.L.C.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1525</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000906587</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOORE MERIDEE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WATERSHED ASSET MANAGEMENT L.L.C.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MARITIME PLAZA, SUITE 1525</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>See Remarks</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Kevin D. Katari, a managing member of WS Partners, L.L.C. and Watershed Asset Management, L.L.C., two of the reporting persons on this Form 4, was, until May 22, 2008, a member of the Issuer's Board of Directors.  On May 22, 2008, Mr. Katari's term as director ended.  As of such date, Mr. Katari is no longer a member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer.  As a result of Mr. Katari no longer being a director, the reporting persons identified in this Form 4 may no longer be deemed to be directors by deputization with respect to the Issuer.  None of the reporting persons have effected any transactions in securities or derivative securities of the Issuer since the filing of its Form 3 with respect to the Issuer.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Meridee A. Moore, on her own behalf and as attorney-in-fact and/or authorized signatory for Watershed Asset Management, L.L.C., Watershed Capital Partners, L.P., Watershed Capital Institutional Partners, L.P. and WS Partners, L.L.C.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
