Cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin film for flexible optical device applications were prepared at $H_2/(Ar+H_2)$ flow ratios on polyethersulfon (PES) flexible polymer substrates at room temperature by radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique. The CdS thin films deposited at room temperature showed a (002) preferred orientation and the smooth surface morphologies. Films deposited at a hydrogen flow ratio of 25% exhibited a photo- and dark-sheet resistance of about 50 and $2.7;{ imes};10^5;{Omega}/square$, respectively. From the result of the bending test, CdS films exhibit a strong adhesion with the PES polymer substrates and the $Al_2O_3$ passivation layer deposited on the CdS films only shows an increase of the resistance of 8.4% after exposure for 120 h in air atmosphere.