Invincible is a 2006 American biographical sports drama film directed by Ericson Core.
It is based on the nonfictional story of Vince Papale (Mark Wahlberg), who played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1976 to 1978 with the help of his coach, Dick Vermeil (Greg Kinnear).
In 1976, 30-year-old substitute teacher Vince Papale goes to a sandlot one night and joins his friends playing a pick-up football game against another group of young men.
After the game ends, Papale goes home and finds his wife Sharon disgusted with his failure to provide proper support.
The following night back at the bar, Papale meets a new co-bartender, Janet Cantrell, who is a Giants fan.
Desperate for income in the aftermath of his wife's departure, Papale receives support from his friends and attends the tryout for the Eagles, which is hosted at Veterans Stadium.
Vermeil is impressed by Papale's performance and invites him to training camp to compete for a roster spot with the Eagles.
The next day, Papale is jogging in the city and stops by his empty home; running into friends, he tells them about joining the Eagles.
As Papale's career with the Eagles begins, the team loses all six pre-season games and their regular season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Papale plays poorly against the Cowboys, and Vermeil faces pressure from the fans and media.
After an up-and-down game, Papale gets downfield during an Eagles' fourth quarter punt to tackle the returner, forcing a fumble that he recovers and takes into the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Eagles their first win in Papale's career.
Papale was a standout special teams star for the Bell, who played at Philadelphia's JFK Stadium.
In real life, Papale dated and married his second wife, Sandy during the movie's time frame.
The fumble recovery depicted in the climactic scene did occur, but Papale's touchdown did not count, under NFL rules at the time, since the ball could not be advanced.
Rookie Quarterback Mike Cordova threw from the Pats' 14, and Cornerback Raymond Clayborn deflected the ball slightly allowing Papale to make a diving catch in the end zone.
The website's critical consensus reads, "As simple and authentic as the gritty South Philly environs in which it's set in, Invincible sends a uplifting and heartfelt message packed with an athletic enthusiasm that shouldn't be missed".
[12] The film also inspired the show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia in its third season in an episode called “The Gang Gets Invincible” in which Dennis, Mac and Dee try out for the Philadelphia Eagles due to the movie Invincible; they also repeatedly refer to it as "that New Kids on the Block movie", seemingly confusing lead Mark Wahlberg, and specifically his lead role with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, with his brother Donnie Wahlberg.