<PAGE>   1
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2001
                                                           Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                              BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      REPUBLIC OF FRANCE                                    NONE
-------------------------------             ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

                             157-159 ANATOLE FRANCE
                                LEVALLOIS-PERRET
                                  FRANCE 92300
   (Address, including zip code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                                ----------------

                           STOCK SUBSCRIPTION WARRANT
                           (Full titles of the Plans)

                                ----------------

                           CLIFTON THOMAS WEATHERFORD
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                            BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS
                              3030 ORCHARD PARKWAY
                           SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95134
                                (408) 953-6000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)

                                ----------------

                                    Copy to:
                             STEVEN V. BERNARD, ESQ.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                            PALO ALTO, CA 94304-1050
                                 (650) 493-9300

                                ----------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                      PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
          TITLE OF SECURITIES                   AMOUNT TO BE           OFFERING PRICE            AGGREGATE           REGISTRATION
            TO BE REGISTERED                     REGISTERED               PER SHARE           OFFERING PRICE             FEE
----------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------
<S>                                                <C>                      <C>                 <C>                     <C>
Ordinary Shares, nominal value
  0.10 euros  per share (1)..........              22,500                   $54.41              $1,224,225 (2)          $306.06
====================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts that
     are issuable upon deposit of the Ordinary Shares with The Bank of New York
     as Depositary registered hereby have been registered pursuant to a separate
     Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 33-83164).

(2)  Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) for the purpose of calculating the
     registration fee, based on the actual price at which the Ordinary Shares
     issuable pursuant to the Stock Subscription Warrant may be purchased (57.96
     euro per share) converted into U.S. Dollars using the Key Currency Cross
     Rate as of February 5, 2001 as quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

================================================================================



<PAGE>   2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose
of registering 22,500 of the Registrant's Ordinary Shares to be issued to Mr.
John Olsen pursuant to a stock subscription warrant.

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents and information filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by the Registrant are incorporated herein
by reference:

              1.  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                  year ended December 31, 2000.

              2.  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended March 31, 2001.

              3.  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended June 30, 2001.

              4.  The description of Registrant's Ordinary Shares, nominal value
                  0.10 euros per share, contained in the Registrant's
                  Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 0-24720).

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered under this registration statement
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, are
incorporated by reference in this registration statement from the date of filing
of such documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         None.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Registrant maintains liability insurance for its directors and
principal executive officers, including insurance against liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a written agreement with each of
its directors and officers.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>   3


ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             EXHIBIT
              NUMBER                           DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
             -------                           -----------------------
<S>                       <C>
               4.1(1)     Form of Deposit Agreement, as amended and restated
                          on December 30, 1998, among Business Objects S.A., the
                          Bank of New York, as Depositary, and holders from time
                          to time of American Depositary Shares issued
                          thereunder (including Exhibit A to the Deposit
                          Agreement).

               4.2        Stock Subscription Warrant for John Olsen.

               5.1        Opinion of Shearman & Sterling as to the validity of the Ordinary Shares.

              23.1        Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

              23.2        Consent of Shearman & Sterling (included in Exhibit 5.1).

              24.1        Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
</TABLE>

----------------

(1)  Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 4.0 to the Registrant's 1998 Annual
     Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission


<PAGE>   4



ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


<PAGE>   5




                                   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 on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, California, on September 14, 2001.


                                       BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A.

                                       By:  /s/ Bernard Liautaud
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Bernard Liautaud,
                                          Chairman, President and Chief
                                          Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Bernard Liautaud and Clifton T.
Weatherford and each of them, acting individually, as his attorney-in-fact, with
full power of substitution, for him and in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments to this registration statement on this Form S-8 and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement on Form S-8 has been signed on September 14, 2001, by the
following persons in the capacities indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                                           TITLE                                   DATE
                ---------                                           -----                                   ----
<S>                                        <C>                                                        <C>
     /s/ Bernard Liautaud                  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive       September 14, 2001
------------------------------------       Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     BERNARD LIAUTAUD

     /s/ Clifton T. Weatherford            Chief Financial Officer and Senior Group Vice              September 14, 2001
------------------------------------       President (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
         CLIFTON T. WEATHERFORD

     /s/ Bernard Charles                   Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     BERNARD CHARLES

     /s/ Arnold N. Silverman               Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     ARNOLD N. SILVERMAN

     /s/ Albert Eisenstat                  Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     ALBERT EISENSTAT

     /s/ John Olsen                        Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     JOHN OLSEN

     /s/ Bernard Bourigeaud                Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     BERNARD BOURIGEAUD
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   6


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             EXHIBIT
              NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
             -------                            -----------------------
<S>                       <C>

               4.1(1)     Form of Deposit Agreement, as amended and restated
                          on December 30, 1998, among Business Objects S.A., the
                          Bank of New York, as Depositary, and holders from time
                          to time of American Depositary Shares issued
                          thereunder (including Exhibit A to the Deposit
                          Agreement).

               4.2        Stock Subscription Warrant for John Olsen.

               5.1        Opinion of Shearman & Sterling as to the validity of the Ordinary Shares.

              23.1        Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

              23.2        Consent of Shearman & Sterling (included in Exhibit 5.1).

              24.1        Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
</TABLE>
------------

(1)  Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 4.0 to the Registrant's 1998 Annual
     Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission.
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "BUSINESS OBJECTS SA", "cik": "0000928753", "assigned-sic": "7372", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-69374", "film-number": "1737200"}, "business-address": {"street1": "BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS", "street2": "1870 ZANKER RD", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134", "phone": "4089536024"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS", "street2": "2870 ZANKER RD", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95134"}}
1
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 14, 2001
                                                           Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                ----------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ----------------

                              BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

      REPUBLIC OF FRANCE                                    NONE
-------------------------------             ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

                             157-159 ANATOLE FRANCE
                                LEVALLOIS-PERRET
                                  FRANCE 92300
   (Address, including zip code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                                ----------------

                           STOCK SUBSCRIPTION WARRANT
                           (Full titles of the Plans)

                                ----------------

                           CLIFTON THOMAS WEATHERFORD
                             CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                            BUSINESS OBJECTS AMERICAS
                              3030 ORCHARD PARKWAY
                           SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95134
                                (408) 953-6000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)

                                ----------------

                                    Copy to:
                             STEVEN V. BERNARD, ESQ.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                            PALO ALTO, CA 94304-1050
                                 (650) 493-9300

                                ----------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                      PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
          TITLE OF SECURITIES                   AMOUNT TO BE           OFFERING PRICE            AGGREGATE           REGISTRATION
            TO BE REGISTERED                     REGISTERED               PER SHARE           OFFERING PRICE             FEE
----------------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ------------------
Ordinary Shares, nominal value
  0.10 euros  per share (1)..........              22,500                   $54.41              $1,224,225 (2)          $306.06
====================================================================================================================================
(1)  American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts that
     are issuable upon deposit of the Ordinary Shares with The Bank of New York
     as Depositary registered hereby have been registered pursuant to a separate
     Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 33-83164).

(2)  Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) for the purpose of calculating the
     registration fee, based on the actual price at which the Ordinary Shares
     issuable pursuant to the Stock Subscription Warrant may be purchased (57.96
     euro per share) converted into U.S. Dollars using the Key Currency Cross
     Rate as of February 5, 2001 as quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

================================================================================
2

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose
of registering 22,500 of the Registrant's Ordinary Shares to be issued to Mr.
John Olsen pursuant to a stock subscription warrant.

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         The following documents and information filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by the Registrant are incorporated herein
by reference:

              1.  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
                  year ended December 31, 2000.

              2.  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended March 31, 2001.

              3.  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                  ended June 30, 2001.

              4.  The description of Registrant's Ordinary Shares, nominal value
                  0.10 euros per share, contained in the Registrant's
                  Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 0-24720).

         All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered under this registration statement
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, are
incorporated by reference in this registration statement from the date of filing
of such documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         None.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         The Registrant maintains liability insurance for its directors and
principal executive officers, including insurance against liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a written agreement with each of
its directors and officers.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         Not applicable.

                                      II-1
3

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT
              NUMBER                           DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
             -------                           -----------------------
4.1(1)     Form of Deposit Agreement, as amended and restated
                          on December 30, 1998, among Business Objects S.A., the
                          Bank of New York, as Depositary, and holders from time
                          to time of American Depositary Shares issued
                          thereunder (including Exhibit A to the Deposit
                          Agreement).

               4.2        Stock Subscription Warrant for John Olsen.

               5.1        Opinion of Shearman & Sterling as to the validity of the Ordinary Shares.

              23.1        Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

              23.2        Consent of Shearman & Sterling (included in Exhibit 5.1).

              24.1        Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
----------------

(1)  Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 4.0 to the Registrant's 1998 Annual
     Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission
4

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include
any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
5

                                   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 on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, California, on September 14, 2001.

                                       BUSINESS OBJECTS S.A.

                                       By:  /s/ Bernard Liautaud
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          Bernard Liautaud,
                                          Chairman, President and Chief
                                          Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Bernard Liautaud and Clifton T.
Weatherford and each of them, acting individually, as his attorney-in-fact, with
full power of substitution, for him and in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments to this registration statement on this Form S-8 and to file
the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement on Form S-8 has been signed on September 14, 2001, by the
following persons in the capacities indicated.
SIGNATURE                                           TITLE                                   DATE
                ---------                                           -----                                   ----
/s/ Bernard Liautaud                  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive       September 14, 2001
------------------------------------       Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     BERNARD LIAUTAUD

     /s/ Clifton T. Weatherford            Chief Financial Officer and Senior Group Vice              September 14, 2001
------------------------------------       President (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
         CLIFTON T. WEATHERFORD

     /s/ Bernard Charles                   Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     BERNARD CHARLES

     /s/ Arnold N. Silverman               Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     ARNOLD N. SILVERMAN

     /s/ Albert Eisenstat                  Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     ALBERT EISENSTAT

     /s/ John Olsen                        Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     JOHN OLSEN

     /s/ Bernard Bourigeaud                Director                                                   September 14, 2001
------------------------------------
     BERNARD BOURIGEAUD
6

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
              NUMBER                            DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT
             -------                            -----------------------
4.1(1)     Form of Deposit Agreement, as amended and restated
                          on December 30, 1998, among Business Objects S.A., the
                          Bank of New York, as Depositary, and holders from time
                          to time of American Depositary Shares issued
                          thereunder (including Exhibit A to the Deposit
                          Agreement).

               4.2        Stock Subscription Warrant for John Olsen.

               5.1        Opinion of Shearman & Sterling as to the validity of the Ordinary Shares.

              23.1        Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors.

              23.2        Consent of Shearman & Sterling (included in Exhibit 5.1).

              24.1        Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
------------

(1)  Incorporated by Reference to Exhibit 4.0 to the Registrant's 1998 Annual
     Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission.