Video analytics is one of those hot technologies that gets people excited. The ability to use artificial intelligence-based technology to “watch” video holds much promise for security and surveillance applications. But the excitement around the technology has led to a marketplace where the line between fiction and reality has blurred. This article covers the five biggest myths of video analytics technology and practice, and examines the true state-of-the-art state of the art. The performance of analytics systems is generally very acceptable in well-designed operating environments.”]