content: <PAGE>   1
  
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 1995
  
                                                         Registration No. 33-_____
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                            HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
              DELAWARE                                             06-1326879
  (State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer 
  incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)
  
                  777 LONG RIDGE ROAD, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06902
                 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
                                --------------------
  
                    HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION 1991 STOCK PLAN
                              (Full title of the plan)
  
                                --------------------
  
                                  JAMES A. PERAKIS
                        PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                            HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION
                   777 LONG RIDGE ROAD, STAMFORD CONNECTICUT 06902
                 (Name and address of agent for service of process)
  
                                    203-321-3500
            (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
  
                                --------------------
  
                                      Copy to:
                                JAMES P. O'HARE, ESQ.
                             TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT
                                   125 HIGH STREET
                             BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110
                                   (617) 248-7000
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  =========================================================================================================
   Title of Securities       Amount to be       Proposed maximum      Proposed maximum         Amount of
    to be registered          registered       offering price per    aggregate offering    registration fee
                                                     share(1)              price
  
  <S>                         <C>                    <C>                <C>                     <C>    
    Common Stock, par         1,600,000              $18.63             $29,808,000             $10,279
       value $.01
  =========================================================================================================
  </TABLE>
  
        (1) Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1), the price of $18.63 per share, which is
  the average of the high and low prices reported on the National Association of
  Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System on December 22, 1995, is set forth
  solely for purposes of calculating the filing fee.
  
  
  <PAGE>   2
  
          This Registration Statement registers additional securities of the same
  class as other securities for which registration statements filed on this form
  relating to the 1991 Stock Plan are effective. Pursuant to General Instruction
  E, the Registrant incorporates the information identified in Part II below from
  the Registrant's Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-44127
  and Registration No. 33-57145).
  
                                             PART II
  
                        INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  Item 8.  Exhibits.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
        Exhibit No.                   Description of Exhibit
        -----------                   ----------------------
        <S>                           <C>
               5.1                    Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault.
  
              23.1                    Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
                                      (contained in its opinion as Exhibit 5.1).
  
              23.2                    Consent of Ernst & Young.
  
              24.1                    Power of Attorney (contained in page 3 of this
                                      Registration Statement).
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
  <PAGE>   3
  
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
  certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
  statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Stamford and the State of Connecticut, on this 15th
  day of December, 1995.
  
                                         HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION
  
                                         By: /s/ James A. Perakis
                                            ---------------------------
                                            James A. Perakis
                                            President and
                                            Chief Executive Officer
  
        We, the undersigned officers and directors of Hyperion Software
  Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint James A. Perakis and Lucy
  Rae Ricciardi, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full
  power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the
  capacities indicated below, the registration statement on Form S-8 filed
  herewith and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said
  registration statement, and generally to do all things in our names and on our
  behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Hyperion Software
  Corporation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
  amended, all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
  ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said
  attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and all amendments
  thereto.
  
        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  Signature                              Title(s)                                           Date
  - ---------                              --------                                           ----
  <S>                                    <C>                                                <C>
  /s/ James A. Perakis                   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director    December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  James A. Perakis
  
  /s/ Gary G. Greenfield                 Director                                           December 18, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  Gary G. Greenfield
  
                                         Director                                           
  - -----------------------------
  Harry S. Gruner
  
  /s/ William W. Helman IV               Director                                           December 28, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  William W. Helman IV
  </TABLE>
  
  
  <PAGE>   4
  
  
  
  <TABLE>
  <S>                                      <C>                                              <C>
  /s/ Marco Arese Lucini                   Director                                         December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  Marco Arese Lucini
  
                                           Director                                         
  - -----------------------------
  Aldo Papone
  
                                           Director                                         
  - -----------------------------
  Robert W. Thomson
  
  /s/ Lucy Rae Ricciardi                   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial        December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------            Officer
  Lucy Rae Ricciardi                       
  
  /s/ Michael A. Manto                     Corporate Controller                             December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  Michael A. Manto
  </TABLE>
  
  
  <PAGE>   5
  
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  
  <TABLE>
  <CAPTION>
  Exhibit              Description of Exhibit
  - -------              ----------------------
  <S>                  <C>
         5.1           Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault.
  
        23.1           Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
                       (contained in its opinion as Exhibit
                       5.1).
  
        23.2           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  
        24.1           Power of Attorney (see page 3 of
                       Registration Statement).
  </TABLE>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "HYPERION SOFTWARE", "secsgml_size_bytes": 8703}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "IMRS INC", "cik": "0000878594", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "133360138", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0630"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "033-65475", "film-number": "95606062"}, "business-address": {"street1": "777 LONG RIDGE RD", "city": "STAMFORD", "state": "CT", "zip": "06902", "phone": "2033213500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "777 LONG RIDGE ROAD", "city": "STAMFORD", "state": "CT", "zip": "06902"}}
text: 1
  
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 29, 1995
  
                                                         Registration No. 33-_____
  ================================================================================
  
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  
                                      FORM S-8
  
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                             THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
                            HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
              DELAWARE                                             06-1326879
  (State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer 
  incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)
  
                  777 LONG RIDGE ROAD, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06902
                 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
  
                                --------------------
  
                    HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION 1991 STOCK PLAN
                              (Full title of the plan)
  
                                --------------------
  
                                  JAMES A. PERAKIS
                        PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                            HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION
                   777 LONG RIDGE ROAD, STAMFORD CONNECTICUT 06902
                 (Name and address of agent for service of process)
  
                                    203-321-3500
            (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
  
                                --------------------
  
                                      Copy to:
                                JAMES P. O'HARE, ESQ.
                             TESTA, HURWITZ & THIBEAULT
                                   125 HIGH STREET
                             BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02110
                                   (617) 248-7000
  
                           CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
  =========================================================================================================
   Title of Securities       Amount to be       Proposed maximum      Proposed maximum         Amount of
    to be registered          registered       offering price per    aggregate offering    registration fee
                                                     share(1)              price
  Common Stock, par         1,600,000              $18.63             $29,808,000             $10,279
       value $.01
  =========================================================================================================
  (1) Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1), the price of $18.63 per share, which is
  the average of the high and low prices reported on the National Association of
  Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System on December 22, 1995, is set forth
  solely for purposes of calculating the filing fee.
  2
  
          This Registration Statement registers additional securities of the same
  class as other securities for which registration statements filed on this form
  relating to the 1991 Stock Plan are effective. Pursuant to General Instruction
  E, the Registrant incorporates the information identified in Part II below from
  the Registrant's Registration Statements on Form S-8 (Registration No. 33-44127
  and Registration No. 33-57145).
  
                                             PART II
  
                        INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  
  Item 8.  Exhibits.
  Exhibit No.                   Description of Exhibit
        -----------                   ----------------------
  5.1                    Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault.
  
              23.1                    Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
                                      (contained in its opinion as Exhibit 5.1).
  
              23.2                    Consent of Ernst & Young.
  
              24.1                    Power of Attorney (contained in page 3 of this
                                      Registration Statement).
  3
  
                                     SIGNATURES
  
        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
  certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
  statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
  authorized, in the City of Stamford and the State of Connecticut, on this 15th
  day of December, 1995.
  
                                         HYPERION SOFTWARE CORPORATION
  
                                         By: /s/ James A. Perakis
                                            ---------------------------
                                            James A. Perakis
                                            President and
                                            Chief Executive Officer
  
        We, the undersigned officers and directors of Hyperion Software
  Corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint James A. Perakis and Lucy
  Rae Ricciardi, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full
  power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the
  capacities indicated below, the registration statement on Form S-8 filed
  herewith and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said
  registration statement, and generally to do all things in our names and on our
  behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Hyperion Software
  Corporation to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
  amended, all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby
  ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said
  attorneys, or any of them, to said registration statement and all amendments
  thereto.
  
        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
  registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
  capacities and on the date indicated.
  Signature                              Title(s)                                           Date
  - ---------                              --------                                           ----
  /s/ James A. Perakis                   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director    December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  James A. Perakis
  
  /s/ Gary G. Greenfield                 Director                                           December 18, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  Gary G. Greenfield
  
                                         Director                                           
  - -----------------------------
  Harry S. Gruner
  
  /s/ William W. Helman IV               Director                                           December 28, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  William W. Helman IV
  4
  /s/ Marco Arese Lucini                   Director                                         December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  Marco Arese Lucini
  
                                           Director                                         
  - -----------------------------
  Aldo Papone
  
                                           Director                                         
  - -----------------------------
  Robert W. Thomson
  
  /s/ Lucy Rae Ricciardi                   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial        December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------            Officer
  Lucy Rae Ricciardi                       
  
  /s/ Michael A. Manto                     Corporate Controller                             December 15, 1995
  - -----------------------------
  Michael A. Manto
  5
  
                                    EXHIBIT INDEX
  Exhibit              Description of Exhibit
  - -------              ----------------------
  5.1           Opinion of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault.
  
        23.1           Consent of Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
                       (contained in its opinion as Exhibit
                       5.1).
  
        23.2           Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
  
        24.1           Power of Attorney (see page 3 of
                       Registration Statement).