The invention provides a human face recognition method and a mobile terminal, and relates to the technical field of human face recognition. The method comprises the steps of collecting face images after a screen locking interface is displayed; matching expressions indicated by the face images with preset functional expressions; when the expressions indicated by the face images are successfully matched with the functional expressions, executing functional operations corresponding to the functional expressions. By matching the expressions obtained by collection with the preset functional expressions, after successful matching, the functional operation corresponding to the functional expressions is executed, the phenomenon that after the screen locking interface is displayed, the mobile terminal can collect the face images to unlock the mobile terminal is avoided, a user can control the mobile terminal to execute the human face recognition operation of the mobile terminal according to thetyped-in expressions, the human face flexibility is improved, and the user experience is improved.