Video analytics is one of those hot technologies that gets people excited. The ability to use artificial intelligence-based technology to "watch" video, extract useful information and create alerts holds much promise for security and surveillance applications. In fact, the technology can appear so cutting-edge that it often sounds more like science fiction than reality. And, unfortunately, the excitement around the technology has led to a marketplace where the line between fiction and reality has blurred. For instance, one common myth about video analytics is that it can spot a terrorist in a stadium full of people -- something even the human eye can't detect. Or it can automatically "see" a person cheating at a black jack table, while highly trained surveillance personnel cannot. This article covers the five biggest myths of video analytics technology and practice, and examines the true state-of-the-art.