End of Movie Question

I agree with that interpretation. He's a heartless character, he would shrug and grin about being abandoned/left by everybody.

I actually think he is in shock because the way everyone acts towards him. He has got to believe that they are all saps for taking what "high" road they deem necessary - so he looks out the window and realizes that they could all share in the wealth (so to speak) but cannot believe that all are gone so that smirk comes across his face and his eyes say those immortal words "To hell with them then!"

i've always wondered about that scene...

It wasn't clear but he was going to try to get with oil companies to look for oil on the land because it was being discovered around the area and Hud was hoping to get rich. Lon left and told Hud he would tell him where to send his share of the oil money. But the main point was that Hud was left alone.

Paul Newman's fine performance actually led me to believe that Hud knows he's a loser, and pathetic to boot.

I think the smirk (and his taking a slow gulp of beer) are his only way of defending his pitiful state...he;s a loser, but won't admit it.

maydom04 is spot on.
all along hud knows in his heart that he is in the wrong but he has been on that road for a long time and man of his pride would not admit that he is wrong. not even when he see his dad dying. this thing plays out again and again. In the end he is realizing that he is all alone and has lost everyone but as he can not admit himself to be wrong even to himself he shrugs it.

I kinda agree. It wrongfoots the audience. I thought, okay, this is the moment when he breaks down and confronts his demons and sees himself for what he is, as he's left all alone. But that would have been a copout and they give us something we don't expect. Nothing redeeming about Hud!