Provided are techniques for optimized deployment of analytic models in an edge topology. A description of a multi-tiered edge topology with a plurality of nodes, a multimedia stream analytics composition, and performance objectives are received, where the multimedia stream analytics composition includes tasks that use analytic models. The analytic models are optimized and clustered to form clusters of optimized analytic models. A representative optimized analytic model is selected from each of the clusters. A configuration recommendation is determined that indicates deployment of the tasks and of each selected representative optimized analytic model on the plurality of nodes to meet the performance objectives. One or more workflows are generated from the configuration recommendation and executed on the plurality of nodes to generate output for the multimedia stream analytics composition.