Oil shale is an important mineral energy with huge resources. It is an important alternative energy for oil and natural gas. Pyrolysis is an important technology of oil shale utilization. The oil shale pyrolysis mechanism is of great significance to improve the yield and quality of shale oil and shale gas products, the research status of which is introduced in this paper in terms of the kinetics and products distribution characteristics. Finally, some suggestions and opinions about oil shale pyrolysis mechanism are put forward.