<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<edgarSubmission xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ncen">
  <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>N-CEN</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0000906790</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <flags>
        <returnCopyFlag>false</returnCopyFlag>
        <overrideInternetFlag>false</overrideInternetFlag>
        <confirmingCopyFlag>false</confirmingCopyFlag>
      </flags>
      <investmentCompanyType>N-6</investmentCompanyType>
    </filerInfo>
    <seriesClass>
      <reportClass>
        <rptIncludeAllClassesFlag>true</rptIncludeAllClassesFlag>
      </reportClass>
    </seriesClass>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <generalInfo reportEndingPeriod="2018-12-31" isReportPeriodLt12="N"/>
    <registrantInfo>
      <registrantFullName>HANCOCK JOHN VARIABLE LIFE ACCOUNT S</registrantFullName>
      <investmentCompFileNo>811-07782</investmentCompFileNo>
      <registrantCik>0000906790</registrantCik>
      <registrantLei>549300N5D6LKBYW21Z06</registrantLei>
      <registrantstreet1>200 Berkeley Street</registrantstreet1>
      <registrantcity>Boston</registrantcity>
      <registrantzipCode>02116-5010</registrantzipCode>
      <registrantstate>US-MA</registrantstate>
      <registrantcountry>US</registrantcountry>
      <registrantphoneNumber>6175726000</registrantphoneNumber>
      <websites>
        <website webpage="www.johnhancock.com"/>
      </websites>
      <locationBooksRecords>
        <locationBooksRecord>
          <officeName>Sarah Orlandella</officeName>
          <officeAddress1>200 Berkeley St.</officeAddress1>
          <officeCity>Boston</officeCity>
          <officeStateCountry officeState="US-MA" officeCountry="US"/>
          <officeRecordsZipCode>02116-5010</officeRecordsZipCode>
          <officePhone>6176632565</officePhone>
          <booksRecordsDesc>Separate Account Financial Statements</booksRecordsDesc>
        </locationBooksRecord>
      </locationBooksRecords>
      <isRegistrantFirstFiling>Y</isRegistrantFirstFiling>
      <isRegistrantLastFiling>N</isRegistrantLastFiling>
      <isRegistrantFamilyInvComp>N</isRegistrantFamilyInvComp>
      <registrantClassificationType>N-6</registrantClassificationType>
      <isSecuritiesActRegistration>Y</isSecuritiesActRegistration>
      <chiefComplianceOfficers>
        <chiefComplianceOfficer>
          <ccoName>Francis V. Knox, Jr.</ccoName>
          <crdNumber>001699647</crdNumber>
          <ccoStreet1>200 Berkeley St.</ccoStreet1>
          <ccoCity>Boston</ccoCity>
          <ccoStateCountry ccoState="US-MA" ccoCountry="US"/>
          <ccoZipCode>02116-5010</ccoZipCode>
          <ccoPhone>XXXXXX</ccoPhone>
          <isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>N</isCcoChangedSinceLastFiling>
          <ccoEmployers>
            <ccoEmployer ccoEmployerName="N/A" ccoEmployerId="N/A"/>
          </ccoEmployers>
        </chiefComplianceOfficer>
      </chiefComplianceOfficers>
      <isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>N</isRegistrantSubmittedMatter>
      <isPreviousLegalProceeding>N</isPreviousLegalProceeding>
      <isPreviousProceedingTerminated>N</isPreviousProceedingTerminated>
      <isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>N</isFinancialSupportDuringPeriod>
      <isExemptionFromAct>N</isExemptionFromAct>
      <principalUnderwriters>
        <principalUnderwriter>
          <principalUnderwriterName>John Hancock Distributors LLC</principalUnderwriterName>
          <principalUnderwriterFileNumber>8-15826</principalUnderwriterFileNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>000005249</principalUnderwriterCrdNumber>
          <principalUnderwriterLei>N/A</principalUnderwriterLei>
          <principalUnderWriterStateCountry principalUnderWriterState="US-DE" principalUnderWriterCountry="US"/>
          <isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>Y</isPrincipalUnderwriterAffiliatedWithRegistrant>
        </principalUnderwriter>
      </principalUnderwriters>
      <isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>N</isUnderwriterHiredOrTerminated>
      <publicAccountants>
        <publicAccountant>
          <publicAccountantName>Ernst &amp; Young LLP</publicAccountantName>
          <pcaobNumber>00042</pcaobNumber>
          <publicAccountantLei>N/A</publicAccountantLei>
          <publicAccountantStateCountry publicAccountantState="US-NY" publicAccountantCountry="US"/>
        </publicAccountant>
      </publicAccountants>
      <isPublicAccountantChanged>N</isPublicAccountantChanged>
      <isOpinionOffered>N</isOpinionOffered>
      <isMaterialChange>N</isMaterialChange>
      <isAccountingPrincipleChange>N</isAccountingPrincipleChange>
    </registrantInfo>
    <unitInvestmentTrust>
      <depositors>
        <depositor>
          <depositorName>John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.)</depositorName>
          <depositorCrdNo>N/A</depositorCrdNo>
          <depositorLei>QQ0OZ8J9C4B5QT1XDG31</depositorLei>
          <depositorStateCountry depositorState="US-MI" depositorCountry="US"/>
          <depositorUltimateParentname>Manulife Financial Corporation</depositorUltimateParentname>
        </depositor>
      </depositors>
      <uitAdmins>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>State Street Bank</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>N/A</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-MA" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>N</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>N</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>SALI Fund Services</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>N/A</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-TX" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>N</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>N</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
        <uitAdmin>
          <uitAdminName>PIMCO Funds</uitAdminName>
          <uitAdminLei>N/A</uitAdminLei>
          <uitAdminStateCountry uitAdminState="US-MO" uitAdminCountry="US"/>
          <isUitAdminAffiliated>N</isUitAdminAffiliated>
          <isUitAdminSubAdmin>N</isUitAdminSubAdmin>
        </uitAdmin>
      </uitAdmins>
      <isUitAdminHiredTerminated>N</isUitAdminHiredTerminated>
      <registrantSeparateInsuranceAccount isRegistrantSeparateInsuranceAccount="Y" separateAccountSeriesId="S000009931"/>
      <numOfContracts>18149</numOfContracts>
      <contractSecurities>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="MEVL Medallion Executive Variable Life (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085958" separateAccountTotalAsset="73387610.800000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="229267.460000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="118825.570000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Majestic Variable Estate Protection 98 (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085977" separateAccountTotalAsset="426086895.730000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="9707596.410000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="4672921.040000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="1020383.800000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="2"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Variable Estate Protection Plus (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085978" separateAccountTotalAsset="137467628.540000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="4045977.530000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="3335778.330000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="1898723.450000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="5"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Variable Estate Protection Edge (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085971" separateAccountTotalAsset="11129142.530000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="368238.120000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="0.000000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Majestic Performance Variable Universal Life (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085972" separateAccountTotalAsset="18451415.080000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="1217767.960000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="1286659.760000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Performance Survivorship Universal Life (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085973" separateAccountTotalAsset="21409573.490000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="377888.000000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="135797.880000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="124207.080000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Performance Executive Variable Life (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085976" separateAccountTotalAsset="369406.300000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="4680.000000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="0.000000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Medallion Executive Variable Life II (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085959" separateAccountTotalAsset="201727480.320000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="0.000000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="0.000000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Medallion Executive Variable Life III (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085960" separateAccountTotalAsset="339523323.120000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="6378919.160000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="1347223.150000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="1237528.700000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="4"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Majestic Variable Universal Life (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085962" separateAccountTotalAsset="56494056.260000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="924106.120000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="547146.180000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Majestic Variable Universal Life 98 (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085963" separateAccountTotalAsset="730971058.880000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="21488890.100000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="6942286.500000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="10227321.180000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="11"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="VCOLI (JHUSA) or Variable Master Plan Plus (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085965" separateAccountTotalAsset="489697925.270000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="25456101.350000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="12946692.040000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="MVCOLI (Majestic Variable COLI) (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085968" separateAccountTotalAsset="297180487.910000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="501181.110000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="1596708.200000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="0"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Variable Estate Protection (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085979" separateAccountTotalAsset="230914777.260000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="11618948.030000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="4424017.950000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="965823.740000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="3"/>
        <contractSecurity separateAccountSecurityName="Majestic Variable Estate Protection (JHUSA)" separateAccountContractId="C000085980" separateAccountTotalAsset="205941902.540000000000" numContractsSold="0" grossPremiumReceived="2828835.310000000000" grossPremiumReceivedSection1035="0.000000000000" numContractsAffected="0" contractValueRedeemed="5468906.010000000000" contractValueRedeemedSection1035="17271.540000000000" numContractsAffectedRedeemed="1"/>
      </contractSecurities>
      <isRule6C7Reliance>N</isRule6C7Reliance>
      <isRule11A2Reliance>N</isRule11A2Reliance>
    </unitInvestmentTrust>
    <signature registrantSignedName="Hancock John Variable Life Account S" signedDate="2019-03-13" signature="/s/ Sarah Orlandella, CPA" title="AVP Finance"/>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
