Over the past few years, Hollywood movies have been soaring in the international market; there has been a shift in the way global audiences react to their movies. There used to be a time when the U.S. box office alone could make or break a movie. Now, China, the world’s second-largest movie market, has become a key contributor to making a Hollywood project successful.

Their taste for high-octane action and emotional epics has led to movies quietly making more money in China than they did back home. Sometimes, the star power, paired with clever marketing, can really elevate a movie’s appeal, turning the projects that once were sometimes meh in the U.S. into global hits.

From movies that feature actors like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Tom Cruise, and Brad Pitt to movies that stand out due to technical marvels and use stunning visuals like the Transformers,...