<PAGE>   1
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 5, 1998
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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


                                 CKS GROUP, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


       DELAWARE                                         77-0385435
------------------------                    ------------------------------------
(STATE OF INCORPORATION)                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                               10441 BANDLEY DRIVE
                           CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                        1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                           1995 DIRECTORS' OPTION PLAN

                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLANS)


                                 MARK D. KVAMME
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 CKS GROUP, INC.
                               10441 BANDLEY DRIVE
                           CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
                                 (408) 366-5100
(NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)


                                    COPY TO:
                              BARRY E. TAYLOR, ESQ.
                              DANIEL R. MITZ, ESQ.
                               RAMSEY HANNA, ESQ.
                       WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                               PALO ALTO, CA 94304
                                 (415) 493-9300

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================
                                         AMOUNT           PROPOSED                    PROPOSED           AMOUNT OF
     TITLE OF SECURITIES TO              TO BE         MAXIMUM OFFERING           MAXIMUM AGGREGATE     REGISTRATION
          BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED     PRICE PER SHARE (1)           OFFERING PRICE         FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>            <C>                         <C>                   <C>     
Common Stock issuable under 1997
Employee Stock Purchase Plan            300,000          $19.00/sh(2)                $5,700,000           
Common Stock issuable under                              
1995 Directors' Option Plan             100,000          $19.00/sh(2)                $1,900,000                   
                                                         
Total shares of Common Stock            400,000                                      $7,600,000           $2,304   
===================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


(1)     Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of
        calculating the registration fee.

(2)     Based upon the closing price per share as reported by the Nasdaq
        Stock Market as of the close of business on June 4, 1998.




<PAGE>   2

                                 CKS GROUP, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART II


INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        There are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and into the Prospectus relating to this Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 428 the following documents and information heretofore filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

        1. The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended March 1, 1998.

        2. The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 1997

        3 The description of Registrant's Common Stock contained in Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 23, 1995, including any
amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description.

               All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof, and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

               Not Applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

               Not Applicable.



                                       -2-

<PAGE>   3

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

        The Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits, to the maximum extent
permitted by Delaware law, the personal liability of directors for monetary
damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as a director. The Company's Bylaws
provide that the Company shall indemnify its officers and directors and may
indemnify its employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware law. The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its
officers and directors containing provisions which are in some respects broader
than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General
Corporation Law. The indemnification agreements require the Company, among other
things, to indemnify such officers and directors against certain liabilities
that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers
(subject to certain exceptions) and to advance their expenses incurred as a
result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent made a party to
an action by reason of that fact that he or she was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request of the
corporation against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with such action if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he
or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the corporation and with respect to any criminal action, had no reasonable cause
to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

               Not Applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                 Document
------                 --------
<S>     <C>                               
4.1     1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

4.2(1)  1995 Directors' Option Plan.

5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered.

23.1    Consent of KPMG Peat & Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.3    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).

</TABLE>


                                       -3-

<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number          Document
------          --------
<S>     <C>
24.1    Power of Attorney (see page 5).
</TABLE>

        (1) Previously filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Registration
        Statement on Form S-1, declared effective December 14, 1995.


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 or 1933, as amended (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 hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in this 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 items described in Item 6 of Part II of this
Registration Statement, 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.


                                       -4-

<PAGE>   5

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, CKS Group, Inc., 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 Cupertino, State of California, on the
5th day of June, 1998.

                                       CKS GROUP, INC.


                                       By: /s/ CARLTON H. BAAB
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Carlton H. Baab, Executive Vice 
                                           President and Chief Operating Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Mark D. Kvamme, Carlton H. Baab and
Robert T. Clarkson 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
(including post-effective amendments) 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 our signatures as they may
be signed by our said attorney to any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement.

        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 dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Signature                              Title                          Date
        ---------                              -----                          ----
<S>                                  <C>                                    <C>


/s/ MARK D. KVAMME                   President, Chief Executive             June 5, 1998
------------------------------       Officer and Chairman of the Board
Mark D. Kvamme                       

/s/ CARLTON H. BAAB                  Executive Vice President,
------------------------------       Chief Operating Officer, and           June 5, 1998
Carlton H. Baab                      Chief Financial Officer,

/s/ THOMAS K. SUITER                 Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Thomas K. Suiter

/s/ ALEXANDRE BALKANSKI              Director                               June 5, 1998
Alexandre Balkanski

/s/ PIERRE R. LAMOND                 Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Pierre R. Lamond

/s/ BARRY R. LINSKY                  Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Barry R. Linsky

/s/ MICHAEL B. SLADE                 Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Michael B. Slade

</TABLE>


<PAGE>   6

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        Number                      Description                           
        ------                      -----------                           
<S>             <C>
        4.1     1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

        4.2(1)  1995 Directors' Option Plan

        5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of Securities being registered

        23.1    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors

        23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

        23.3    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

        24.1    Power of Attorney
</TABLE>

----------
(1)     Previously filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Registration Statement on
        Form S-1, declared effective December 14, 1995.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15243}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CKS GROUP INC", "cik": "0001002518", "assigned-sic": "7389", "irs-number": "770385435", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1130"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-56193", "film-number": "98643335"}, "business-address": {"street1": "10441 BANDLEY DR", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014", "phone": "4083655100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "10441 BANDLEY DR", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014"}}
1
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 5, 1998
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                 CKS GROUP, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

       DELAWARE                                         77-0385435
------------------------                    ------------------------------------
(STATE OF INCORPORATION)                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                               10441 BANDLEY DRIVE
                           CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                        1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                           1995 DIRECTORS' OPTION PLAN

                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLANS)

                                 MARK D. KVAMME
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                 CKS GROUP, INC.
                               10441 BANDLEY DRIVE
                           CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA 95014
                                 (408) 366-5100
(NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                    COPY TO:
                              BARRY E. TAYLOR, ESQ.
                              DANIEL R. MITZ, ESQ.
                               RAMSEY HANNA, ESQ.
                       WILSON, SONSINI, GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                               PALO ALTO, CA 94304
                                 (415) 493-9300

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================
                                         AMOUNT           PROPOSED                    PROPOSED           AMOUNT OF
     TITLE OF SECURITIES TO              TO BE         MAXIMUM OFFERING           MAXIMUM AGGREGATE     REGISTRATION
          BE REGISTERED                REGISTERED     PRICE PER SHARE (1)           OFFERING PRICE         FEE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock issuable under 1997
Employee Stock Purchase Plan            300,000          $19.00/sh(2)                $5,700,000           
Common Stock issuable under                              
1995 Directors' Option Plan             100,000          $19.00/sh(2)                $1,900,000                   
                                                         
Total shares of Common Stock            400,000                                      $7,600,000           $2,304   
===================================================================================================================
(1)     Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) solely for the purpose of
        calculating the registration fee.

(2)     Based upon the closing price per share as reported by the Nasdaq
        Stock Market as of the close of business on June 4, 1998.
2

                                 CKS GROUP, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        There are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and into the Prospectus relating to this Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 428 the following documents and information heretofore filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

        1. The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
ended March 1, 1998.

        2. The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
November 30, 1997

        3 The description of Registrant's Common Stock contained in Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 23, 1995, including any
amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description.

               All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof, and prior to the
filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

               Not Applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

               Not Applicable.

                                       -2-
3

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

        The Company's Certificate of Incorporation limits, to the maximum extent
permitted by Delaware law, the personal liability of directors for monetary
damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as a director. The Company's Bylaws
provide that the Company shall indemnify its officers and directors and may
indemnify its employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware law. The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its
officers and directors containing provisions which are in some respects broader
than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General
Corporation Law. The indemnification agreements require the Company, among other
things, to indemnify such officers and directors against certain liabilities
that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers
(subject to certain exceptions) and to advance their expenses incurred as a
result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent made a party to
an action by reason of that fact that he or she was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request of the
corporation against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with such action if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he
or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of
the corporation and with respect to any criminal action, had no reasonable cause
to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been
informed that in the opinion of the Commission, such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

               Not Applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number                 Document
------                 --------
4.1     1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

4.2(1)  1995 Directors' Option Plan.

5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being registered.

23.1    Consent of KPMG Peat & Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.3    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
-3-
4
Exhibit
Number          Document
------          --------
24.1    Power of Attorney (see page 5).
(1) Previously filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Registration
        Statement on Form S-1, declared effective December 14, 1995.

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 or 1933, as amended (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 hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in this 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 items described in Item 6 of Part II of this
Registration Statement, 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.

                                       -4-
5

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, CKS Group, Inc., 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 Cupertino, State of California, on the
5th day of June, 1998.

                                       CKS GROUP, INC.

                                       By: /s/ CARLTON H. BAAB
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Carlton H. Baab, Executive Vice 
                                           President and Chief Operating Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Mark D. Kvamme, Carlton H. Baab and
Robert T. Clarkson 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
(including post-effective amendments) 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 our signatures as they may
be signed by our said attorney to any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement.

        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 dates indicated.
Signature                              Title                          Date
        ---------                              -----                          ----
/s/ MARK D. KVAMME                   President, Chief Executive             June 5, 1998
------------------------------       Officer and Chairman of the Board
Mark D. Kvamme                       

/s/ CARLTON H. BAAB                  Executive Vice President,
------------------------------       Chief Operating Officer, and           June 5, 1998
Carlton H. Baab                      Chief Financial Officer,

/s/ THOMAS K. SUITER                 Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Thomas K. Suiter

/s/ ALEXANDRE BALKANSKI              Director                               June 5, 1998
Alexandre Balkanski

/s/ PIERRE R. LAMOND                 Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Pierre R. Lamond

/s/ BARRY R. LINSKY                  Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Barry R. Linsky

/s/ MICHAEL B. SLADE                 Director                               June 5, 1998
------------------------------
Michael B. Slade
6

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Number                      Description                           
        ------                      -----------
4.1     1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

        4.2(1)  1995 Directors' Option Plan

        5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of Securities being registered

        23.1    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, Independent Auditors

        23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

        23.3    Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

        24.1    Power of Attorney
----------
(1)     Previously filed as an exhibit to Registrant's Registration Statement on
        Form S-1, declared effective December 14, 1995.