The film, called 'Alchemist', features a motorcycle chase at a high security laboratory where a youth-enhancing beauty product is being produced.
The product turns out to be Unilver's Lux Super Rich Shine shampoo and its benefits are demonstrated by Zeta-Jones's shimmering hair when she attends a red carpet ball.
'Alchemist' was created by JWT from an original screenplay by Jeffrey Caine, who also wrote the screenplay for James Bond film 'GoldenEye' and thriller 'The Constant Gardener'.
Unilever has been buying five-minute blocks of time on channels including China Central and Fox to air the mini film, mostly during programmes about movies and celebrities, according to The Wall Street Journal.
An edited version of the film, which is in English with Chinese or Japanese subtitles, will also play in cinemas.
Zeta-Jones, whose film credits include 'The Mask of Zorro', 'Ocean's Twelve' and 'Chicago', has appeared in Lux ads since 2008. She is also currently the global spokeswoman for cosmetics giant Elizabeth Arden and has appeared in numerous TV ads for T-Mobile.
Unilever hopes the film will help Lux to battle entrenched market leaders in China and Japan. Lux had a 10.2% market share in Japan last year, putting it a close second to Shiseido's shampoo, according to market research firm Euromonitor International.
In China, Lux has a 5.1% market share, putting it behind Procter & Gamble's Rejoice, Head & Shoulders and Pantene Pro V, which together account for nearly 40% of shampoos sales there.